South Dakota State Library: Library Development e-Newsletter

trends and more

SDLN Members: GALE Databases Provide ReadSpeaker

By Nina Mentzel, SDLN

SDLN members: have you heard the news? Really, have you heard it? Now you can with ReadSpeaker, articles read out loud! You can hear the news and a whole lot more!

Two of the South Dakota Library Network’s GALE databases, Student Resource Center Gold and Kids InfoBits, now feature ReadSpeaker support. This feature allows students to listen to an audiofile of the article while reading the text; in addition, students can download the MP3 file of the article to listen at a later time. Take advantage of this cool new audio feature to help your students increase their reading comprehension and enjoyment!

ReadSpeaker function converts text and streams the corresponding audio content without any software downloads or special plug-ins needed. Users can select any portion of text or an entire article to be streamed as audio. With a click of a button, the text can be read aloud via the user’s computer, making the content accessible in a new way. These audio segments can also be saved as MP3 files for use on MP3 players for listening at a later time.

ReadSpeaker lets you hear a document spoken aloud by a computer-generated voice. Look for this audio player dashboard (right), which lets you control the voice.

ReadSpeaker help is readily available through either GALE database.

If you have questions about ReadSpeaker you can contact Nina Mentzel at the South Dakota Library Network, 1-800-245-5690.

Web Site Resources To Check Out

Stimulating School Libraries

School Library Journal’s Battle of the (Kid’s) Books
www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1180000718.html

Obtaining Consent Forms for Photography in Library
www.marketingyourlibrary.com/2009/02/obtaining-consent-forms-for-photography.html

New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age
www.nypl.org/books/sta2009/

Children’s Book Week May 11-17, 2009 – Posters are Free!
www.bookweekonline.com/

Storytelling Ideas for All Ages
www.storyarts.org/

National Library Week
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.cfm

National Poetry Month
www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41

Reading Group Guides
www.readinggroupguides.com/content

National Institutes of Health
nih.gov/

accessibility, electronic resources, trends, websites

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