App of the Week: Halftone and Halftone 2

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Screen Shot 2015-07-07 at 10.20.06 AM
Name: Halftone and Halftone 2
Platform: iOS only
Cost: $0.99 (Halftone) and $1.99 (Halftone 2) and in-app purchases for square page layouts

Ever wish you were a cartoonist? The Halftone apps let you realize that aspiration easily enough. Named after the printing process for rendering images through gradients of black and white or color, these apps is easy to use and produce amazing effects.

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You begin by importing a picture or using your camera. You can choose different caption styles, speech bubbles (which can be layered) as well as a series of classic “stamps” to simulate action. Fonts include a range of easily legible comic-based styles, with three sizes. The whole set-up means you can create something worthy of the funny pages in mere seconds.
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Become a YALSA Author!

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by Jane Gov (on behalf of the Publications Advisory Board)

Have you been told that you have great ideas and you should share it with the world? How about just a general urge to inspire other Teen Librarians? ‘ Help improve the future of teen services by sharing your expertise. ‘ Share your niche. Share your knowledge. ‘ Become a YALSA author!

Why should you publish? ‘ Besides just the satisfaction of seeing your name in print and sharing your knowledge with the library community, publishing with YALSA will increase your professional prominence and your access to YALSA’s vast communication network. ‘ Authors gain unique opportunities such as participating in book signings or presenting a program at ALA’s Annual Conference, the Young Adult Literature Symposium, and other Division conferences.

What’s great about publishing through YALSA is the built in community and recognition. ‘ YALSA publications have been well reviewed in the library community, and YALSA is the widely recognized authority on all matters relating to young adult library services. ‘ When authors publish with YALSA, they have the support of YALSA staff, who are friendly, knowledgeable and reliable. ‘ They can answer your questions, provide research assistance and more.

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Gail Rebuck: New Chapter or Last Page? Publishing Books in a Digital Age

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Digitization is changing the world of literature daily. Each day I add another bookmark to a growing file of articles on topics ranging from Japan’s love of cell phone novels (in the London Times & and the NY Times) to the removal of piracy protection on audiobooks (in the NY Times & Cory Doctorow’s take on Boing-Boing.) Authors & publishers are embracing change by posting free content online, such as Neil Gaiman’s story “A Study in Emerald” available as both eBook & audiobook (read by Gaiman) on HarperCollins’ website.

These changes have prompted many to ponder the future of the book. Random House UK’s C.E.O. Gail Rebuck presented a brilliant essay as the Stationers’ Company Annual Lecture on the evening of March 10th. The address, titled “New Chapter or Last Page? Publishing Books in a Digital Age,” was made to the members of a Guild formed in 1403 for the publishing industry, a fitting group to contemplate the message. Read the whole speech here. I believe this to be a must-read for all who value the literary past and who look to the future of publishing.

Mary Burkey
http://audiobooker.blogspot.com/