Published: September 13, 2008 11:59 pm         

Online storybooks can help young readers with fundamentals

Jennifer Spriggs, of the Western Maryland Regional Library, gives a demonstration to Allegany County Library System Board of Trustees Wednesday on how easy BookFlix is to use. (video by Kevin Spradlin)

WESTERNPORT — Parents and children now have another resource available to help learn the fundamentals of reading with a new online database through the Allegany County Library System.

Jennifer Spriggs, who works in the Washington Street branch for the Western Maryland Regional Library, gave the library system’s board of trustees a guide Wednesday on the new interactive literacy resource. BookFlix combines classic fictional video storybooks from Weston Woods with nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to reinforce reading skills and develop essential real-world knowledge and understanding.

“The interface is really easy to use,” Spriggs said. “Kids will just fly through this.”

There are 80 titles available now and can be accessed from a library patron’s home computer with Internet access, Spriggs said. Users can log on to the library’s Web page at www.alleganycountylibrary.info, click “online database,” and the world is open to young readers’ eyes. The program is designed for early readers from pre-kindergarten through third grade.

A video demonstration of BookFlix can be viewed online at www.times-news.com.

Jeff Getty, chairman of the board, said this database is representative of how much information is available online — and demonstrative that most of the library’s re-sources can be found on the Web.

“The amount of information we use in the business of delivering is geometrically greater than the number of books (on the shelves” by a factor of 10,” Getty said. “Ten percent of our library is in our buildings. The rest of it is online.”

John Taube, system director, said between 800 and 900 people visit one of the library’s six locations and the Bookmobile. He said another 1,200 to 1,400 patrons benefit from the library’s resources while at home via their personal computer.

“That’s the way kids want to do it,” said board member Barbara Leasure.

The program is specifically created to help English language learners, and beginning and reluctant readers. Taube said he envisioned using BookFlix at home with his son to “introduce the ‘wow’ factor” of reading. He also said homeschooled children could use the program.

Children can use the “read-aloud” option to hear each book narrated. By moving the cursor over a highlighted word, a reader gets assistance with both the pronunciation and definition of a word. Their learning is supplemented with educational games and activities and safe, age-appropriate Web links selected by editors from Scholastic. Readers also can access information on the book’s author of each fiction book.

Spriggs said BookFlix is just one of many databases the library system offers online. The Internet allows an expanded — and affordable — library collection “and there really is something for everyone.” Topics covered include those for children to adult from storybooks to home improvement and investment.

But the Internet should enhance, not replace, a reader’s trip to the library.

“It’s just one of the many resources,” Spriggs said.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.