The Canadian Library Association Announces Winner of the CLA/Information Today Award for Innovative Technology

(Ottawa, May 8, 2009) – Canadian Library Association / Association canadienne des bibliothèques is pleased to announce that the 2009 recipient of the CLA/Information Today Award for Innovative Technology is the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library (PARL). The award is given in recognition of “Lobster Fishing on the Susan B”, a digital story book.

“Lobster Fishing on the Susan B” is the first electronic book to be produced by a public library in Nova Scotia. This interactive digital story book describes the lobster fishery in an entertaining and instructive way for children aged 4-8. It was designed with a language arts component, which can be integrated into a teaching curriculum, assisting children learning to read with narration and certain words defined individually. The e-book serves to highlight tourism, economic development and the local artistic community for the northern shore of Nova Scotia.

“Lobster Fishing on the Susan B” explores the relationship between technology and community economic development by creating a colourful, interactive story of the lobster fishing experience that is both educational and entertaining. The story can be viewed for free via: http://www.parl.ns.ca/ebooks/susan-b.htm .

The CLA/Information Today Award is presented annually to honour a member or members of CLA for innovative use and application of technology in a Canadian library setting. The Award is generously sponsored by Information Today, Inc. and will be presented at the CLA/ACB 2009 National Conference & Trade Show in Montreal, QC on June 1, 2009.

The Canadian Library Association / Association canadienne des bibliothèques is Canada’s largest national and broad-based library association, representing the interests of public, academic, school and special libraries, professional librarians and library workers, and all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of Canadians through information and literacy.

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Media Contact: Laura Newton Miller, Chair, CLA/Information Today Award Committee, Tel: (613) 520-2600 ext. 2988; Email: laura_newtonmiller@carleton.ca