ePlatform eBooks

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Our Wheeler’s eBook tool has changed.  We are now using ePlatform. Watch our promo.

To borrow eBooks you need an Online eBook Password. Your MIS ID is your username/login. Don’t know your eBook password?  Ask Library Staff to assist you, then follow the steps below.  Occasionally, you will be sent a reminder of your username and password.

Finding your eBook through your Phone App is the fastest and easiest way. Open Eplatform App after installing it – see Step 3 below. Ensure that you choose our library from the list and are connected to our special school eBook Platform: https://smithfieldshs.wheelers.co/  Browse or search for an eBook to borrow.

Finding your eBook through our Online Catalogue

1. Another way is to browse all eBooks through our resource catalogue online. Change the search field from “Subject” search to “eBooks” in the drop down  menu. Over 1,000 eBooks will be listed. Some of the classics are in the public domain so they should not expire in 2 weeks but remain on  your device.

2.  Alternatively, search by title, author or subject as you would any other resource and choose to borrow/read if it happens to be an eBook.

Downloading your eBook

3. For your very first download, you may need to download the software you will need to open the eBook. Our laptops should already have an ePub reader installed.  For other devices, choose from the software below.

a. Mobile devices and tablets require the ePlatform by Wheelers App. Download it free on your Android device. Or Download it free on your iPhone.

b. Most eReaders already have EPUB compatible software [unfortunately these eBooks are incompatible with Amazon Kindle]

4. Open the Online Library Catalogue on your selected device.(smithfieldshs.cmeweb.libcode.com.au)

5. Select your eBook and click on the green “Download eBook” button (right hand side). This will then open to the book title in the Smithfield High School Wheelers Platform.

6. Click on “Login to download this title” and login using your MID ID and password given to you by the school library staff (ask us if  you forget. Your device should remember the password after the first time.

7. Click on the “READ” link and the eBook will launch on your phone using the ePlatform App. Every time you open your book on your mobile device, it will remember your place.

NOTE: the eBook will disappear from your device after 2 weeks. If your loan expires, re-borrow the title immediately provided someone else has not reserved it.

 

Student Reading Survey Results – Aug 2013

Both general findings and some opinions about ebooks are snipped below from our online reading survey conducted last month across the entire student body. We will be sharing more results with you in coming weeks, however we are appreciative of all the students who took the time to respond to the survey and “have a say”.  Thank you for your time.

The largest group to respond was Year 9 who have been issued with tablet PCs this term. Twice as many year 9’s and year 11’s responded as any other year level.

Many more females than males responded approx. 70% females and 30% males.

76% of students wanted more opportunity to borrow books in class time, while 24% of students preferred to borrow in their own time.

66% of students would like to try reading ebooks and 34% elected not to try them.

The most popular genres students would like us to stock are:  Fantasy, Gothic Fiction, Ghost, Supernatural, Action & Adventure, Crime/Mystery, Romance and relationships, Friends family & school life.

The most popular non-fiction books students would like to read more about are: True Adventure and Survival, Biographies, Social problems and issues, Concordances of facts e.g. Guinness book of records.  Topics of moderate interest also included: Cooking, Health & Fitness, Popular culture and lastly war stories and sports.

Some specific authors recommended were:  John Green, Isaac Marion, James Patterson, JK Rowling, Robin Hobb, Brent Weeks, Brandon Sanderson, Kathy Reich, Jodi Picoult, Nicole Pollizi, Claudia Gray, Kendra Wilkinson, Cassandra Clare, Scott Westerfield, Suzanne Collins, Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, Patrick Carman, Linda Sue Park, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Roland Smith, David Baldacci, Jeff Hirsch and Natalie Standiford. Jonathan Safran Foer.

To Ebook or Not to Ebook – That is the Question…

Around 50 of over 100 students who responded, added comments. In the table below, we have divided the comments about ebooks into positive and negative responses and indicated whether other students shared a similarly expressed viewpoint.

FOR

AGAINST

I love reading and would try it out and read more books that interest me X 2 respondents I do like reading, however I get a sense of satisfaction when reading an actual book. It’s a sense of achievement as I turn a page, one step closer towards the resolution. I also tend to get distracted when on my phone and/or tablet/computer…temptation.  X 4 
easier to carry around, easier, you take your phone everywhere, store hundreds of books but not heavy,  more convenient, esp on the bus  X 15  I like turning the pages and holding them in my hand and smelling them, real books not silly-nilly technological books  X 4
I enjoy reading a range of books that i find hard to find in real life.  X 3  Bad for eyes
I didn’t know I could read them on there/interesting    X 4 Books are better and more authentic
It would be easier than having to go to the library X 2 It would be inconvenient /just don’t want to  X 2
Because its fun X4 Are you going to get rid of the books? It wouldn’t be a true library? Ebooks are confusing and not all people  have a smart phone, tablet or computer. It seems too modern and lazy
I would borrow more books and I’d have to read X 2 Because I’m slack
Be good for textbooks so we don’t have to carry them round X 2 The battery will die fast – I prefer books
I do already X 3  
It don’t wreck the book  
Better to read and it’ll get more use  
Many people my age prefer reading a screen and it is the way forward  

If you would like to ask anything about the survey, please email us.