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Technology combines with libraries to create the ultimate resource for students Bookin'

As COVID hit, libraries were faced with the challenge of shutting down due to safety concerns. Due to people staying home, there was an increase in the purchase of audiobooks and ebooks. Once everything returned to “normal,” libraries once again were forced to compete with technology. Although nowadays, both are interconnected and depend on each other.

“Technology has not interfered but helped,” librarian Kara Johnson said. “I can provide resources to students in all different ways. So not only do they come in here and get a book, but you can just check out right there on your computer or on your phone. It’s also convenient that you can access all the databases through Clever. I do lessons for classes as well.”

Johnson has started to notice an increase in people utilizing the library for purposes other than checking out books.

“The library can offer you things that you maybe never knew were out there,” Johnson said. “I have teachers asking me if we have audiobooks, and I’m like ‘Yes, we have a whole platform called Sora that has ebooks and audiobooks.’ So we can serve in all different ways. I can help you find out information. I can help you get a book that you might be interested in. I can help you log into the computer and print something. I can print your ID. I can help you in the mornings before school with your Chromebook. There’s a lot of services offered here.”

With the rise of audiobooks and ebooks, the on-campus library has adapted to their use and the district has created a space in their budget to fund these changes. In order for teachers or students to rent an ebook or audiobook, they must log in to Clever. Once they’re at the homepage they must look for an app called Sora Library, from there it should automatically log in using school credentials.

“I like ebooks,” Johnson said. “I personally read ebooks. I like to read them at night. I read with the lights off and my yellow glasses on with a sepia tone on my phone. It became a huge thing after COVID. The district provided the libraries with a lot of money to be able to purchase a huge online library. And luckily they’ve been funding it every year after that so I’m able to reorder things that have expired and new stuff. I think it’s a really awesome benefit with the addition of the audiobooks, too. Sometimes students struggle to read, they can listen to the book and or they follow along.”

Besides a place for resources, the library serves as a quiet space to study or eat lunch.

“Groups can come in during or after class to study, “ Johnson said. “I have a lot of people come in and say they don’t like to read and I ask what they’re into in order to find a book based on that. And I’ve had students come back and thank me for that so it warms my little librarian heart.”

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256 students surveyed in English classes