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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama to Announce Free E-Books for Low-Income Kids
Obama to Announce Free E-Books for Low-Income Kids
http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/gadgets/obama-announce-free-e-books-low-income-kids-n351101
"SNIP..............
Working with publishers and libraries, the White House sees the modest plan as part of a strategy to address inner city problems by increasing educational opportunities for kids -- woes brought into focus with recent riots in nearby Baltimore.
Kids will need computers and devices to read the e-books. Jeff Zients, Obama's top economic adviser, noted the White House had previously announced programs to upgrade Internet services for schools and libraries, with private sector help from companies including Apple, which pledged $100 million in devices to low-income schools.
"If we're serious about living up to what our country is about, then we have to consider what we can do to provide opportunities in every community, not just when they're on the front page, but every day," Zients said in a briefing with reporters.
The plan includes $250 million in e-book commitments from publishers, including from the five major publishing houses: Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and HarperCollins.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)fadedrose
(10,044 posts)elleng
(130,980 posts)Kids need BOOKS, and others with which they can READ books!
NO f'ing change! We're f'ed, JUST what repugs want.
Laffy Kat
(16,383 posts)So many houses do not have access to either a computer or Internet subscription. Don't think the Gov. is going to be handing Nooks to every child who needs one.
elleng
(130,980 posts)I'm happy my grandbabies are interested in BOOKS, they're 1 1/2 years and 9 months old, and go to their book cases and ask their parents to read to them. Of course, when they're little they chew on their books, so we get them chewable versions.
I realize all families don't do this, but its better than Lives with Devices, imo.
Cha
(297,323 posts)The Obama administration can't simply give a computer or tablet to every kid who wants to read an e-book. But it has made it a priority to get broadband into just about every public school and library by 2018.
The nation's chief technology officer, Megan Smith, says part of the plan involves "really leveraging libraries as a third place; if families don't have access to devices at home, the children can get to the library and [get in] that habit."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/04/30/403273087/the-plan-to-give-e-books-to-poor-kids
Laffy Kat
(16,383 posts)Reading electronically is bad for kids' eyes and not nearly as relaxing. I also read recently (of course I can't remember where) that electronic reading stimulates a different part of one's brain than do books. Still, I agree that digital books are better than none at all. I guess I could change my opinion about this. At least it's an admirable effort on the administration's part.
Butterbean
(1,014 posts)Yeah, great...free e-books. To be viewed....where? Because all underprivileged kids have tablets, kindles, and home computers.
Cha
(297,323 posts)snip//
"The Obama administration can't simply give a computer or tablet to every kid who wants to read an e-book. But it has made it a priority to get broadband into just about every public school and library by 2018.
The nation's chief technology officer, Megan Smith, says part of the plan involves "really leveraging libraries as a third place; if families don't have access to devices at home, the children can get to the library and [get in] that habit."
MOre
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/04/30/403273087/the-plan-to-give-e-books-to-poor-kids
LordGlenconner
(1,348 posts)These people can't stand the president and will pillory everything he does, because that's what they do.
Really disgusting that they'd pick this subject to use as a bludgeon.
Cha
(297,323 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)applegrove
(118,696 posts)interested in reading and had access to a device, could become a reader independently, not reliant on anyone to take them to the library.
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)You don't need a parent to take you. You can read many books at a time without having to carry that weight.
There's so many positives.
Don't get me wrong, I love a printed book but this will be a great addition.
It's not either/or for me.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)And libraries are nowhere near as plentiful as they once were. So it makes sense, but the old style in me wants paper.
But paper kills trees and costs of lot in transportation whereas the electronic books are virtually cost free and can be downloaded to use in anything.
If one must have paper, they can print it out. But that is a LOT of paper!
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)It is a right wing tactic to take ownership of the sum of human knowledge. Knowledge that should not be owned but available to everyone.
Cha
(297,323 posts)Million!
Thanks Obama! mahalo apple!
TM99
(8,352 posts)Education and reading are very important.
And this also looks like another privatization neo-liberal scheme.
You need a device to read an eBook. Instead of looking at lower priced eReaders, they are looking at partnering with Apple. And iPad is overkill for reading. We also saw how poorly it worked out in the LA County school districts the partnership between Pearson, Apple, and the district.
Here is a suggestion for these publishers. Release to the public domain eBooks of the classics of literature, art, science, philosophy, and religion. Don't charge us for the works of Plato or Tolstoy.
tblue37
(65,409 posts)make them available. Right now I am rereading Thoorstein Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class on the Gutenberg site:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/833/833-h/833-h.htm
It is also free in epub form if you wan to download it. Many of the classics are free to read either online or downloaded.
TM99
(8,352 posts)There are not enough.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I have zero mixed feelings or criticisms about this.
Reading kicks ass.
Cha
(297,323 posts)opportunities for inner city kids. And, of course, it has to be a "neoliberal scheme".
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I feel great about it. Imagine all the reading that will be at their fingertips! (I'm just not that interested in the criticisms and the hemming and hawing, it makes me throw up, roflmao.)
freshwest
(53,661 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)it, my pal freshwest! One of my favorite charities is the fresh air fund, via the NY Times. Helping kids get out of the city and experience nature. I knew a kid in Harlem a while back (I was doing social work there). He visited upstate New York and fell in love with nature. He would joke that he was a farmer born in a city. Guess what? He moved upstate and sees cows & nature all the time now. I haven't spoken with him in a while but last I heard he was doing trail rides with horses. This is great. Free park passes. Someone's (more than one!) life will be changed. Expanding opportunities. Changing things up. Getting people in to parks. All good.
Cha
(297,323 posts)A youngster walks along the banks of the Merced River, in view of El Capitan (L) and Bridalveil Fall (R) in Yosemite National Park in California in 2009. President Barack Obama will announce Thursday that fourth graders can visit national parks for free starting this fall.
http://www.ibtimes.com/national-parks-pass-obamas-every-kid-park-program-gives-fourth-graders-families-free-1821518
This cool initiative!.. mahalo fresh~
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Obama ALWAYS thinks long term. Same as the Keystone delay and then the veto at the end.
He knew the Koches were going to be richer with the tax-free $100B, doubling their current wealth of he same amount. Amd endangering electoral democracy since the GOP won CU.
He called them out at last year's WHPC Dinner and he sure did tick off a off of the Koch lapdog media this year.
Just Bucket!
Cha
(297,323 posts)who are care-givers of our beautiful land.
So get out there and see them, kids, and take your parents with ya!
Cha
(297,323 posts)That's what is important.. the kids, lovemydog.
President Obama announced an initiative to give e-books to low-income students while visiting the Anacostia Library in Washington on Thursday
snip//
"The Obama administration can't simply give a computer or tablet to every kid who wants to read an e-book. But it has made it a priority to get broadband into just about every public school and library by 2018.
The nation's chief technology officer, Megan Smith, says part of the plan involves "really leveraging libraries as a third place; if families don't have access to devices at home, the children can get to the library and [get in] that habit."
MOre
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/04/30/403273087/the-plan-to-give-e-books-to-poor-kids
I bet he'd like to give every kid a computer and internet access!
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)She's gonna love this. She loves helping kids read. She loves President Obama too. We always say 'We have his back.'
Cha
(297,323 posts)librarian.. what a wonderful job!
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Yeah, she likes it. She often tells me funny stories about it. Maybe having cool sisters helps make us more friendly.
Cha
(297,323 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)applegrove
(118,696 posts)books when they get older) that each kid has read and post it somewhere. I have a friend who runs a lending book library that does just that for kids. She get a good number of kids hooked on reading every year. She gives out rewards at functions every year to every child. Because anyone who reads, at no matter what the pace, deserves to be recognized. It makes it fun. And really makes the accomplishment sink in.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)And make it really fun to use.
applegrove
(118,696 posts)about the books they love. Build another community for kids.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I like the way you think.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)I remember the news about it when it opened and that they were saying they'd be loaning out devices so all kids/adults would have equal access. And then I noticed at my local library that Houston Public Library was doing that, too (I could get a laptop on loan, like checking out a book!)
So, with Obama's program of free ebooks, and adding on Joe Konrath's plan of getting more authors available through libraries versus the existing "Overdrive" method, I think this nation's kids will do all right in getting library access
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)What do you use as an ebook device? I'm thinking about getting a kindle, wanted to see what you like. Reading kicks ass.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)I don't know what version they called that (have to look it up.) But I've got tens of books on it, mostly unread or unfinished (typical of me ) Then again, most of my physical books are either unread or unfinished in reading. At least with the Kindle, I can carry around all of those unread and unfinished books and never need a dolly to help me carry them all, just in case I might open one up and finish reading it
Now, I do have another friend that has one of the more recent version of the Kindle with the "Paperwhite" light function. He showed it to me and it isn't full screen as advertised because the 'e-ink' technology isn't an LCD and isn't backlit. That's why it works well in sunlight or other bright light sources, unlike LED/LCD screen technology. It also truly looks like printed ink on a page. It doesn't look like a screen or seem like it other than the fact that it's not a physical book, either
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Looks pretty cool. Thanks.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)I think he was just a little disappointed that the lighting wasn't as complete as depicted in the ads. I'd probably still use a 150w lightbulb at my side anyway
Well, I'll have a look back at this thread in the morning. I'm just happy my fingers haven't made too many mistakes in typing through my fuzzy, cold-infested mind. Off to work in six hours!
freshwest
(53,661 posts)And can you use it to edit a WIP you are creating or if it only for commerically produced books?
Does it require monthly fees for internet access and such?
Most of my ebooks are classics I had a hard time finding online. I doubt they are available commerically. I don't want to buy any, except for a Kindle copy of DFW's excellent sci-fi, history and romance and all a lot of other things that I have the draft copy of in paper.
It's really hard for a regular person to get a book published as it needs a lot of money. For some, the Amazon Kindle selection is fine. Although I suspect I will not be able to afford anything for some years. If ever.
Wish I could move down to the beach in Tejas again, because it's so much cheaper to live, but I have lifelong obligations here.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)as I don't have a Dropbox account. When I do, I'll give a try as I also have some PDFs I'd like to read properly on my Kindle. (PDF to Kindle via Dropbox)
Alternately, you can download the freeware program Calibre and convert your PDFs to mobi files (the Kindle proprietary format.) It works fairly well, but has difficulty with images and when people combine imagery and text.
I took my gf down to Galveston when she was here, and she loved it! She'd go out early in the mornings shooting pics of houses mostly, because she'd never seen so many old homes all in one place. Nor seen so many abandoned, either. Ike's mark is still visible down there...
freshwest
(53,661 posts)A number of places I used to visit have been restored. And it's not as hot as the rest of the state and the sight of the Gulf always made me at peace. Up here some who knows what decided once upon a time to give most of the beach to private owners. So while you can see water all over the place, that's all you get to do.
There are some beach parks and lakes that e are quite popular, but crowded. When I lived in Big H, if I was troubled at times I'd drive to Gal anytime of the day or night to watch that water. Of course the entire state has changed so much since I moved, and since I was a kid, that the old saying 'You can't go home again' definitely fits.
But the 'free market' rental thing here now is driving a lot of people out of town and I really can't handle much more than I am doing now in the way of driving. So I am trapped here. And there are those obligations which can't be met in Tejas.
Fine days down there at one time...
And thanks very much for the info, I'm going to check that out for the day that I can get one.
But you definitely can't edit the material, right?
kentauros
(29,414 posts)As for editing material on a Kindle, I have put my own stuff on it before, and if you email yourself at your Kindle account, whatever you put in that email turns into a document on your Kindle. I just do a conversion through Calibre and manually load it through my computer and a mini-USB cable, works just the same. (I think it will also convert mobi files to other formats, too.)
So, try the free software and then read your own words on your own Kindle, before anyone else does!
KMOD
(7,906 posts)but I prefer real books.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Just kidding KMOD. This will help a lot of kids learn to read & love reading. I like real books too. I tried a kindle a while back & liked it a lot. May get one some day.
I'm a huge advocate of reading. I spent years volunteering in the elementary school library. The biggest trick was always finding books the kids would actually be interested in reading. My son hated reading until he discovered the Harry Potter series when he was in fourth grade.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I didn't read those books but I know it was quite a phenomenon. That you for volunteering in the elementary school library KMOD. I bet you someone was inspired by you to read more. I love books, I'm always reading at least one and sometimes two at a time. Right now I'm reading a history of the Black Panther movement and a Simpsons comics collection. I like changing things up, lol.
KMOD
(7,906 posts)books they would be interested in reading.
Kids love the library. I loved volunteering there.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I was pleasantly surprised when she told me libraries are still thriving. I had a fear that they would disappear. But people love getting information and if they are comfortable and friendly they love hanging out there too.
Cha
(297,323 posts)I just like real books.
My oldest daughter has her masters in English Lit. Years ago I thought a Kindle would be an awesome gift. She made me return it. She loves the feel and the handling of the actual books.
Now, that's just her and me of course. If a kid can find interest in reading through a kindle, that's great! I'm pro anything to get kids interested in reading, whether it's comic books, magazines, anything.
But I do believe there is a good benefit to having real books provided to children. It's just different, when you can actually hold it in your hand. That's all.
Cha
(297,323 posts)that's where I watch movies.
Just so happy the President is trying to get educational opportunities out there for inner city kids on a larger scale!
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)They don't require a power source. They don't require access to the internet. They are always there. They won't change if formatting of some sort changes. Or if an EMP happens, the real books will still work.
applegrove
(118,696 posts)at one time with ebooks. The choices are much more plentiful. Unlimited. For sure paper books will still be bought or loaned out. It is just that you can scale it up with ebooks.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)ebooks can't be passed on to other readers, and that they can be arbitrarily taken from you if there's something hinky about the copyright or some such.
Iris
(15,660 posts)Accessed at one time.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)big difference. The cost of printing is in itself a restriction.
Iris
(15,660 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)you're likely to see even the legacy publishers remove their limits (eventually. After the pulling of many teeth.)
Joe Konrath - Ebooks Are Forever
applegrove
(118,696 posts)form that costs them nothing, they give the ebooks to kids who may not be buying a ton of books otherwise, and they create a generation of lifelong readers who will then buy the publishers' books when said kids become adults for 50 years. Great market making.
Lyric
(12,675 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)I don't think too much of the president's many corporate/mic giveaways, but this is free, modern, outside the box...brilliant
Vinca
(50,279 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)However, I doubt many will mourn the demise of physical copies of romance novels, horror books, and every other genre packed into your average grocery aisle and airport. Only the legacy publishers would, while the authors go independent, get higher royalty payments, and faster (one month wait time versus eighteen months.)
Personally, I would love to be able to have all of my cookbooks and other reference books (gardening, herbology, food science) digitized for fast and easy use. Not to mention saving a few hundred pounds in shipping costs the next time I move
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)Pooka Fey
(3,496 posts)Last edited Fri May 1, 2015, 11:23 AM - Edit history (1)
as real books have editors and publishing houses that check for correct spelling and grammar. For kid's books, the tactile quality of real (i.e. printed on paper) books is important as are the illustrations, which stimulate young imaginations.
I have had a Kindle paperwhite for 2 years, and a regular Kindle before that. I read several hours each day, and subscribe to Kindle Unlimited which allows me to access a large library for $10 per month - mostly self-published E-books.
Self published E-books are 85% garbage, overflowing with spelling and grammatical errors, stuffed with unnecessary and redundant text to increase book length. The paragraph formatting is also usually garbage. I decided to stop paying for E-books, unless they are published by a legitimate known publishing company. Every now and then, I stumble upon a book that makes the $10 monthly fee worthwhile, so I keep the service - but only because I travel and the Kindle is convenient for reading on a train or an airplane.
I have seen people put a self-published book on the market that looks like a 1st draft of a junior high school essay. This is a direct consequence of Kindle, E-books, and Amazon, whose only interest is to make money and eliminate the very necessary role of the traditional book publisher. Amazon could care less about the quality of the books our children read.
Since most of our literacy comes from reading, the quality of the text that our children read matters. I grew up reading books put out by publishing companies. I want future generations to have access to the same print quality that I enjoyed as a child.
When I was a child, there were Children's Book Clubs that allowed me to receive new illustrated books mailed monthly to our home for a very small monthly fee. I would prefer to see free book club memberships for kids, subsidized by the government.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)Because an ebook is just as real as a printed book. If, somehow, an ebook isn't real, then everything on my Kindle is imaginary, I've spent a buttload of money on literally nothing, and everything I've learned from reading those unreal books hasn't actually helped me at all
Pooka Fey
(3,496 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)However, without needing to read all of that, I posit the fact that smart authors do pay for good (i.e., "real" editors, graphic artists, formatters, and even marketers before putting their e-manuscript to market. Only the ones wanting something for little/nothing put out a product without getting everything else checked.
Plus, even the legacy publishers fail authors in the same ways. There are horror stories from both sides of the fence. I guess it just depends on your personal priorities when it comes to publishing and reading. Mine side with independents and ebooks