Incoming: The Sony eReader

Introducing the Sony eReader, the latest addition to the Schulz Library!  Are you curious about digital readers? Do you want to learn more about the role comics can play in this new technology?  Take this gadget out for a whirl!  It’s loaded with the following books and graphic novels:

Black Hole by Charles Burns
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Reading Comics by Douglas Wolk
A Contract with God by Will Eisner
I Saw You… by Julia Wertz et al 
Good-Bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson
The Ten-Cent Plague by David Hajdu
Cruddy by Lynda Barry
French Milk by Lucy Knisley

I must admit, I’m a lover of print.  I like ink on paper, and books with texture.  Gadgets like these aren’t my cup of tea.  But I was impressed by the convenience the eReader has to offer.  You can purchase a book and read it instantly.  For any students, journalists or writers working on  deadline it can be useful research tool.

Is it well suited for comics?  There are definitely some hurdles to overcome.  Reading a comic like Black Hole requires a lot of zooming and navigating, which I found really detrimental.  However, the format of French Milk (by CCS’s own Lucy Knisley!) lends itself well to the eReader.  Her lettering is readable without zooming and the line work is bold.  the drawing aren’t overly intricate, so they can be appreciated on the small screen.

To learn more about the eReader, talk with one of our friendly librarians!

– Robyn Chapman