NY Reads

Share this Smore with teachers and administrators and get the word out...email WSWHE SLS with any questions. All of these resources can be found on your LibraryFYI database pages.

Here is a doc (you will need to request permission to access) that is a cheat sheet for the services in this Smore, including login information.

We now have a new ebook collection from Gumdrop Books, which you can find on your LibraryFYI page. (If you don't see it, email Karin Howansky at WSWHE SLS.)

• This little collection contains all of the state books, plus Puerto Rico.
• Each book has a direct link that can be shared with students, turned into QR codes, or whatever you like.
• All titles are simultaneous access (meaning they're available all the time, no waiting)
• If you need the "real" username and password, they're visible once you click on the link in LibraryFYI and type your student LibraryFYI passcode to allow it to pass through.

We have a whole bunch of fantastic Rosen ebook collections, and if you haven't looked at these yet, you must. These are nonfiction collections that vary from elementary to high school topics.

• Any Spotlight collections have Built-in lessons, planning guides, graphic organizers, timelines
• Direct URLs for individual titles can be shared with students via digital classroom platforms for easy access, along with a simple login (ask SLS for details).
• Text-to-speech with highlighting available on all titles
• Simultaneous access
• Topics vary from Animals to Ancient Civilizations to Global Issues

We still have Gale ebooks, and Marshall Cavendish ebooks (housed in ePoint Plus), as well. These collections have not been updated in a while, but many folks still like them.

Gale ebooks:

• Button available on your LibraryFYI platform (a few of you may have your own collection)
• Lots of DK Eyewitness books in here that students clamor for

Marshall Cavendish ebooks:

• include some elementary-level math picture books and some higher level issues and controversies books.
• Button on LibraryFYI may ask for a login. Ask SLS if you need that.

Sora (OverDrive) is by far our largest collection, and it's grown up a lot over the years. Whether you're new to Sora or a pro, look around to see what's in the collection. Some quick facts...

• Collection is one collection, filtered into three access levels:
• Juvenile: Elementary students only see Juvenile content
• Young Adult: Middle school students can see Juvenile and YA titles
• Adult: High school students and teachers can see the entire collection
• All schools in WSWHE are Google Authenticated (except Saratoga, which is Office365 Authenticated), so logging in is a cinch
• Students can get definitions and take notes right in Sora, and upload them to Google Drive to share with others (and Sora keeps that info after the book has been returned)
• Sora is generally a 1-1 resource (1 copy, 1 user), but there are many simultaneous access (especially in NY Reads) and multiple copies of titles available
• Titles can be ASSIGNED! No "I forgot it at home" (this also works well for librarians to assign titles to students that are at higher access levels)
• MultiMedia has a collection of multiple-copy titles in Sora as well
• It is possible to lease class sets on demand; ask SLS for details
• Titles borrowed download onto your device, so they can be accessed when offline
• App is available for Smartphones

NY Reads Screencast: Add this to your collection NOW!

Please take advantage of this amazing, free-to-you, add-on collection.

• Always available!
• Over 1000 ebooks & audiobooks purchased by 32 BOCES regions in NYS
• Blend of classics and modern titles
• eBooks and Audiobooks
• This is great to promote to teachers who need "class sets"! Titles include The Hobbit, 1984, Animal Farm, These Violent Delights, Sold, A Wrinkle in Time, and so many more.

Note: Each user (teachers, librarians, students) has to add this collection to their Sora account, but only once. Do this with a class during library time...or pop into a classroom...or make a video and share it with your teachers.

OverDrive is once again having a #biglibraryread title available as simultaneous access from November 2-16 in Sora. This year's title is A Snake Falls to Earth, by Darcie Little Badger, and it's a YA title, so it will be visible to middle schoolers and high schoolers. Darcie Little Badger's YA books are a unique blend of Lipan Apache storytelling with modern teens, monsters, magic, and family that appeal across a range of grade levels.

No Waiting! Unlimited Access Titles for Younger Readers (through 9/2024)

No Waiting! Unlimited Access Titles for Older Readers (through 9/2023)

Social Emotional Learning

Habla Espanol Spanish Collection (through 10/2023)

Magazines

There are also many classic titles that are always available, including The Great Gatsby, Frankenstein, Shakespeare works, works by the Bronte sisters, and more.

This is the perfect time to think ahead to explore simultaneous-access ebooks and audiobooks available to all students for the 2022-2023 school year, available at no cost to you. Think outside the box, too...

• Many of these are always available
• Instant access
• No worries about "I lost it" or "the dog ate it"
• Assignable or accessible via direct links
• Contain accessibility features (these features vary by platform, but they're worth looking for) such as being able to customize font size and shape, contrast, audio or text-to-speech, define words, and more
• For ebooks available other than OverDrive's Sora, we do have a "virtual library" slide deck if that helps you get a sense of what we have. This slide deck encompasses just about all of our ebooks that are not housed in Sora. Some folks prefer to browse in the platforms; some like this slide deck to wrap their brains around what is available. Questions? Ask Karin.

Email Karin at khowansky@wswheboces.org