More technology again!

Amazon's Kindle, the electronic book platform, has just appeared in a new, thinner, apparently more user-friendly version. This little device that makes it possible to store a library of books in a small package has been hailed by some educators as a way of coping with the impossible load of textbooks children are now carrying. While that development hasn't come yet, more and more recreational reading is appearing in Kindle versions. Many teenagers and tweens are attracted to these electronic tools, but authors have raised concerns. One of the features of the new Kindle is the ability to turn any book into an audio book. A reader can choose to read the print or listen to the story from the machine. This of course affects authors' earnings from audio rights to books, an important consideration when it is already so difficult to earn a living by writing. Librarians and teachers are keeping an eye on the Kindle and should be aware of possible copyright issues involved in using these readers. Even while we embrace technology, we have to be sure it isn't causing trouble in the wider world of writing and publishing.