Loyola Student Dispatch

Loyola University Chicago’s University Libraries will host a discussion at noon Monday to explore the increasing prominence of e-books.

The event, geared toward faculty, will held on the fourth floor of the Klarchek Information Commons.

Here is the story from Inside Loyola:

“Commonalities is an informal discussion group for faculty interested in exploring topics that are related to teaching and research,” writes Leslie Haas, director of the Klarchek Information Commons, in an e-mail interview.  “It is not meant to be a lecture or presentation, but to provide faculty with an opportunity to meet others who may have an interest in the same subject and to get together and explore different topics.”

This month, the focus is all on the new era of digital textbooks. In addition to being an increasingly prominent issue in the higher education world, Haas says there was an e-book discussion last year, and it was so popular they decided it should be brought back and expanded.  Haas says the Dean of the Libraries, Robert Seal, is leading a University Committee on the subject as well, making the discussion particularly germane in terms of Loyola’s broader vision.

Not a digital textbook expert? Don’t worry. Haas says the discussion is facilitated by a faculty member that has a “specific interest” in the topic and helps the conversation begin. If interested, participants are also given articles and resources before the discussion in order to help prepare.

- Alexandra Watt