Multimedia Review:News

Mark your calendars for the upcoming webcast, "From the Page to Your Ears: The Making and Dissemination of an Audiobook," sponsored by BBC Audiobooks America and Library Journal, on September 15th at 2 pm ET. What challenges do audiobook narrators, directors, and publishers face in bringing audiobooks to fruition? What role do libraries play in determining which titles are made into audiobooks? How does technology impact audiobook production and distribution? Get a peek into the complex world of audio publishing. The panel will feature author Julia Spencer-Fleming and narrator Suzanne Toren, who has narrated all of the author's books in the Russ Van Alstyn/Rev. Clare Fergusson mystery series; BBC Audiobooks America Executive Producer, Dan Hypes; and C. L. Quillen, Coordinator of Public Services, Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library, acting as moderator. For free registration, visit www.libraryjournal.com/bbcaudiobooksamerica.

Toon Boom Studio 5 (Win/Mac), released by Toon Boom Animation, is sure to stimulate creativity in students and educators. This easy-to-use, multi-technique animation software program features a new stop-motion animation enhancement in addition to its previous traditional, digital, cut-out, and rotoscoping capabilities. The curriculum for educators is divided into two parts: art and cross-discipline. In addition, The Stop-Motion Animation Workout ($26.99) has been published to offer instructions on how to create a stop-animation short. Visit toonboom.com/products/toonBoomStudio to find out more about and purchase Studio 5 ($399.99) and The Workout.

PBS Digital Learning Library, launching in Fall 2009, is an online repository of digital education assets from public broadcasting programs and services nationwide. It will include videos, audio, images, games, and interactive simulations for classroom use, and be offered to teachers through local PBS stations. The videos will be offered in short, classroom-friendly segments. The resources will be aligned to national and local education standards and easily searchable. For information, go to www.pbsteachers.org/dll.