Spending eight years as a reference librarian, teacher of knowledge literacy, and even a library director, together with finishing a Masters in Library Science, it is secure to say, I am an enormous fan of books and data entry. I’m additionally the copyeditor right here at Pocket-lint. Our opinions, how-tos, and head-to-head comparability articles overlaying all of the tech that I dream of scooping up, come by my desk. So, for the holiday season, let me be your professional information on what tech to present the book-lovers in your life.
Best eReaders: Upgrade your print book library for greater storage and accessibility
The very best eReaders are waterproof, simpler in your eyes and might prevent helpful shelf area with unbelievable digital storage choices.
With a library (excuse the pun) of useful tech to select from, I appeared to the Pocket-lint workforce to assist me slender down my listing into three classes. We’ll begin by wanting on the best devices to handle and entry your library of tales and data, then hop to the very best desk necessities, and at last over to additions to spruce up your area. And since I can not assist myself, I will attempt to sneak in some professional ideas all through the listing too. With out additional ado, the very best tech for the avid reader in your life, from a licensed e-book jockey.
Greatest tech to learn and take heed to tales
Amazon Kindle Oasis
Greatest Kindle eReader
Amazon’s finest provide with an enormous show display
The final word studying system, that is for e-book lovers who devour books at pace and need the very best system accessible to learn them on.
- Massive storage
- WhisperSync
- Stunning show
- Consists of web page turner buttons
- 2019 launch
- Costly, different worthwhile fashions exist
- App retailer is proscribed
Whereas I personally have essentially the most expertise utilizing the unique Kindle Hearth 1st era mannequin, it is the Kindle Oasis that I might rapidly change it with if given the prospect (trace, trace). The show measurement and premium efficiency are the standout options, and whereas it launched in 2019, it nonetheless charges very excessive amongst Pocket-lint editors right here (incomes 4.5 out of 5 stars), who agree that is the highest expertise you may have with a Kindle.
Amazon Kindle Oasis (2019) review: Glow up
The Amazon Kindle Oasis (2019) stays our best choice for studying gadgets. It is costly, however, in the event you learn so much, it is unmatched. Discover out why on this full evaluate.
It is usually neglected for latest Kindle Paperwhite and Scribe fashions, however the Kindle Oasis is the unsung hero of the vary. The professionals of this system embrace IPX8 waterproofing, providing safety for these eager to learn by the seaside, tub, or pool. Plus, in the event you’re an audiobook aficionado, the 32GB storage and 4G connectivity are particularly helpful. Bigger storage permits for extra native file obtain area for offline studying and listening — audiobooks, specifically, are hefty recordsdata. The 4G connectivity allows WhisperSync to match up e book and audiobook titles the place you final left off in the event you personal each.
If a 2-in-1 writing possibility, just like the Kindle Scribe, or small measurement for portability, just like the Kindle Hearth, in your eReader is not a serious concern, that is the mannequin I might advocate to your subsequent buy.
reMarkable 2
Greatest ewriter for storytellers and professionals
An environmentally pleasant strategy to set up your brilliance
The reMarkable 2 is the last word minimalist doc creation/modifying instrument. It has dozens of paper model templates, integration with Docs and Dropbox, and is so well-designed.
- Templates for writing, music, and extra
- Appropriate with notes app
- Area and paper saver
- 10.3-inch, E Ink, textured show for paper-like really feel
- No backlighting for nighttime
- Costly
Studying tales is not the one strategy to develop your book-tech. The novelists, song-writers, and storytellers on the market can even be a part of within the enjoyable with the tablet-like expertise of a reMarkable 2 pocket book. Exceptional guarantees to maintain creatives organized and prepared the following time inspiration strikes, with its unbelievable light-weight and skinny pocket book that would change all of the paper notebooks in your bag.
ReMarkable 2 review: You’ll never need paper notebooks again
It is a pill for writing on that has a paper-like really feel… it’s kind of magical
The Pocket-lint workforce reviewed the Exceptional 2 again in 2021 when it got here out, and I personally noticed the system in motion final summer time. The texture of the pill is as near paper as any writing tech we have seen. My earlier library director bought one final summer time, and it was a delight to see the performance and spectacular potential to show fast notes into simply readable PDFs.
Some detractors to say, starting with the worth. That is an costly little bit of tech that I might advocate in the event you or others in your life choose to bodily write issues and desire a approach to try this with much less paper waste and on a product with out distracting extras. This isn’t supposed to switch your telephone, pill, or eReader (though it may show PDF and EPUB ebooks), it is really meant for writing. In case you are searching for a extra all-in-one system, you might wish to try the Kindle Scribe.
If the worth tag is an comprehensible turn-off, I feel many might get by with the Rocketbook Fusion notebook as properly — you will miss out on many premium options, however for a lot much less of a success to your pockets.
Toniebox starter set with Playtime Pet
Greatest storyteller for teenagers
Audiobooks and songs to your favourite baby
The Playtime Pet Tonie on this set even has tunes like “Wheels on the Bus” and “If You are Joyful and You Know It.” The bundle gives a charging station for the Toniebox, too, which affords as much as seven hours of battery life.
- Much less screen-time whereas nonetheless providing storytelling
- Many characters to select from and acquire
- Extraordinarily child and user-friendly
- Battery lasts lengthy sufficient for many outings
- Has proprietary charger stand
- Slightly cumbersome for journey
- Preliminary studying curve to downloading content material
My two favourite toddlers are each getting Tonies this Christmas. Typically the TikTok algorithm wins, and with the Toniebox it did its finest work on me and my sister-in-law. The Toniebox is a dice speaker, wrapped in delicate material, that may play music or tales by attaching completely different Tonie characters to the highest of the system. In case you have a toddler in your life who loves storytime and singing, I feel that is the proper strategy to give them extra tales and independence, with much less display time.
What is a Toniebox, how to set it up, and can you add content to Tonies?
Tonieboxes and Tonies are standard youngsters toys in 2023, rating on Amazon’s finest toy lists. Here is how you can arrange and use these storytelling gadgets.
I now have one Toniebox and 6 Tonie characters in my home, and I am so blissful I misplaced the TikTok battle this time. The hand painted high quality of the characters is great. There’s a unbelievable selection within the Tonie retailer and on Amazon of various characters from Disney, fairytales, standard and basic image books, and academic characters by Nationwide Geographic.
Tonies are really useful for ages 3 and up. Please be aware in the event you purchase them for a kid beneath the age of three, they aren’t supposed to play with them independently. A number of the Tonie characters might be choking hazards with out supervision for youthful youngsters.
I bought the Playtime Pet starter set above and moreover a number of enjoyable characters: Shrek, Counting with Fox, Happening a Bear Hunt, Sleepy Mates Lullaby, and two DIY Inventive Audio Characters. I’m most enthusiastic about giving the customized Tonie characters to my family and friends to create their very own audio to play for his or her youngsters. Whether or not it is a favourite lullaby sung by a grandparent who lives out-of-town or a bedtime story from the mother or father who travels.
Greatest desk necessities to your house library
Librarians know how you can keep cozy, even with most of our buildings’ historical rattling HVACs, excitable patrons, and again workplaces that give Pandora releasing Chaos for the primary time a run for its cash. Listed below are my high selections to make your individual house library area peaceable and serene, and no, it is not simply three completely different cardigans.
Ember Mug 2
Greatest beverage hotter
For these of us with chilly tea and occasional everywhere in the home
$120 $140 Save $20
The second-generation Ember Mug can preserve your espresso or tea at its good temperature for 80 minutes on full cost, or ceaselessly if in case you have it sat on its charging coaster. Good for winter months.
The Ember mug, and particularly the second era, is a favourite amongst editors right here at Pocket-lint. I seethe with envy each time I discover my chilly tea and know that my colleagues have completely tempered caffeine of their mugs from NYC to Wales. The Ember Mug 2 has IPX7 waterproof rating, however must be hand washed solely, not put by the dishwasher.
There’s an app for good management to set your most well-liked temperature, however it works high quality with out the app too. You possibly can rise up to 80 minutes of warmth on the mug when it is not on it is base, which ought to offer you simply sufficient time to recollect the place you’re after diving right into a fantasy novel.
There are a few fashions which may enchantment to completely different shoppers. The mug model above is what I might use, as I work remotely. Nevertheless, if in case you have somebody who commutes or is an on-the-go mother or father, the Ember Travel Mug 2+ is a game-changing possibility. It incorporates Apple’s Find My technology, that can assist you find your favourite vessel.
Niimbot B21 Inkless Label Maker
Greatest tech to arrange your books, cabinets, and desk
Create customized bookplates and genrefy your cabinets
For customized e-book stickers and shelf labeling, make your house cabinets as straightforward to browse as your favourite library or bookshop with the Niimbot B21.
- Connects to your telephone
- Trendy design
- 4 shade choices
- Not as customizable as bigger fashions
- Considerably dear
Relating to organizing books for immediate accessibility, a label maker is a good techy strategy to ease into group with out instantly choosing an eReader. The Niimbot B21 inkless label maker packs a number of options right into a small and trendy package deal. It is transportable, is available in 4 colours, and might hook up with your iPhone or Android system by the Niimbot app for simple printing and design entry.
The wi-fi printer might be taken with you, whether or not from room to room or out of the home, and might print for as much as 4 hours after an hour and a half cost. The printing is finished with thermal know-how and would not want ink. Labels print at a width of 0.8-inch to 2-inch and the Niimbot B21 comes with an included pack of fifty x 30mm labels (230pcs/roll) to make use of.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Greatest noise cancelling headphones
Get misplaced in quiet serenity or immersive listening
$328 $400 Save $72
An incredible all-round package deal that sounds merely unbelievable, Sony’s newest providing is just about pretty much as good because it will get.
- Excellent energetic noise cancellation
- Glorious sound high quality
- Consolation for lengthy listening classes
- Heaps of capabilities
- No assist for aptX
- Do not fold as small as they used to
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are my dream active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones. I am at the moment rocking an outdated Logitech G435 pair that I principally bought for his or her respectable microphone high quality however which lack ANC, and I remorse it. Our Pocket-lint workforce gave the Sony WH-100XM5’s an ideal ranking (5 out of 5 stars) throughout their evaluate, and so they had been simply behind the Bose QuietComfort Ultra in our choose of general headphones of the 12 months for our annual Pocket-lint awards.
Sony WH-1000XM5 review: Still an ANC masterclass
Sony up to date its flagship WH-1000X headphones in 2022, now in its fifth iteration. This time there is a change in design, on high of different enhancements.
Nevertheless, the Sony headphones got here out on high primarily based on worth, in our head-to-head comparison of the 2, which is why they’re my selection right here. Consolation and lengthy audiobook listens go hand-in-hand, whether or not you’ve roommates, would love privateness from little ears, or simply want a break from the noise of the world; these are my dream ANC headphones and I feel they will impress the audiobook lover in your life too.
Greatest library area and studying nook additions
Good lighting makes all of the distinction in a studying area. Sensible lighting is the way in which to go to permit customization to your favourite bookworm to glow up, dim and glimmer, or brighten their area.
Govee Curtain Lights
Greatest good lighting for protection
Nice choose for teenagers and school college students
$90 $130 Save $40
- Animated choices galore
- IP65 waterproofing
- Extraordinarily customizable
- Other ways to mount and apply
- Curtain model not for everybody
- App has a studying curve
The Govee curtain lights are a flexible and enjoyable strategy to improve any area, however one I feel would work so properly in teenagers and school college students’ rooms to customise their area. I purchased curtain fairy lights a number of years in the past that aren’t good, and I really like the impact they’ve on my area, however I would favor to improve mine to the Govee model. Harsh overhead lights are the enemy of most of my millennial-aged mates, and I feel that is one quirk that the majority generations can get behind.
Govee Curtain Lights review: Fairy lights have never been so fun
Govee’s Curtain Lights seem like an superior strategy to simply brighten up your residing area, however are they well worth the money? I put them to the check.
The Pocket-lint workforce reviewed and examined the Govee good curtain lights this previous summer time. They scored properly in brightness ranges, compatibility with Google House and Alexa, and the effectiveness of the RGB animated lighting. In the event you do not use a wise house hub, the app will work properly so that you can management, arrange new lighting settings, and use timers. These lights are way more costly than customary curtain lights, so the IP65 waterproof ranking is sweet to see for longevity’s sake.
The app comes with heaps of preset types but in addition affords DIY customizations and the power to upload gifs to the lights. How efficient the animations could also be will rely upon the unique design’s complexity and the way far you’re from the lights. The lights approximate to 520 pixels for photos to show. The function that I can not wait to check out is the music reactive mode, which makes use of microphones to react to the encompassing music and noise with lighting modifications and pulses. In all probability not finest for events, however superb for creating the proper vibes whereas studying.
Philips Hue Go Transportable Desk Lamp
Greatest transportable mild
Stalk the halls like a ghost in a Brontë novel
The Philips Hue Go Transportable Lamp affords a design that may mix in with most interiors. Portability permits it for use in a mess of studying areas, making for a really versatile system.
- Nice efficiency
- Multitude of options from Hue app
- Strong and transportable design
- Waterproof
- Costly
- Design is probably not to all tastes
In the event you dream of carrying round an oil lamp like a lighthouse grasp in a thriller novel, you aren’t alone. The Philips Hue Go transportable desk lamp is a stellar multiuse possibility that might be an amazing addition to your house studying nook, or another area you could illuminate. It has a useful silicon part alongside the stem for simple carrying. As a Philips Hue good system, it’s suitable with the Philips Hue Bridge, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Matter — a rarity in good lighting.
Philips Hue Go Portable Table Lamp review: Lighting up your home and garden
The Philips Hue Go Transportable Desk Lamp has been reworking my residing area for a number of months, however must you purchase it? Here is my full evaluate.
There is a button on the highest of the shade that may management the system with presets throughout the app, permitting for some guide management if you do not have your telephone or pill close by. The lamp is available in two finishes of black and white, however the lighting choices are the place the colour selection actually impresses.
The Philips Hue Go transportable desk lamp is an easy design that ought to match most interiors, however may not be as fashionable as some would love. The expense is one other factor to think about. Seeing because it might be useful at evening to make use of with out waking the entire home and has a cost that lasts as much as 48 hours (nice in a pinch for an influence outage), there is a case for the worth being price it for this good lamp.
Hooga E-book Mild
Greatest booklight clamp
Blue mild blocking for simpler nighttime studying
This hooga e-book mild is rechargeable, clips on simply to books, and most significantly for nighttime studying, has blue mild blocking LED lights.
- Price range-friendly choose
- Eases eye-strain
- Lengthy battery life
- Journey sized
- On and off button is reportedly loud in some opinions
- Button is straightforward to activate in a bag
In the event you or somebody you already know was ever disciplined for staying up too late studying, the hooga e-book mild is a good discover. Hooga’s clamp model e-book mild guarantees to assist evening owls give their eyes a break with blue mild blocking LED, so eye pressure might be lowered. This model has amber shade lighting, however there are different choices in the event you choose a chillier hue. It is travel-friendly in its measurement and will not hit your pockets as arduous as a few of my different dream picks.
Honorable mentions: Apps and devices for bookworms
If the above presents do not feel like secure bets for the bookworm in your life, the three under must be helpful, but nonetheless private picks for them. Libro.fm and Audible presents playing cards are nice for audiobook lovers.
Libro.fm present card (3 credit)
Secure selection for audiobook lovers
In case your favourite loves unbiased bookstores, that is the present card for them
Libro.fm means that you can buy audiobooks and nonetheless assist your small and unbiased booksellers. A portion of the audiobook sale goes to your chosen bookstore. Like Audible, the membership is $14.99 per thirty days, however you too can browse free of charge and purchase books à la carte with no month-to-month subscription by buying ‘credit’ to your account as you go.
Audible present card (3 credit)
Secure selection for audiobook lovers
For the recipient who’s totally within the Amazon ecosystem
Audible, when built-in with the Kindle system, permits for seamless integration, WhisperSync, and a few fairly cool Audible unique content material. I am actually having fun with the abridged dramatized diversifications of some of my favorites for a brand new model of listening.
Acrimet Premium Steel Bookends
Secure choose for shelving
Low tech answer for safely storing and preserving giant collections
My final choose could appear an odd one, however shelf upkeep know-how is the secret right here. If somebody you already know has really lots of or hundreds of books, they want high quality, heavy-duty e-book ends. The Acrimony model linked right here provide enjoyable colours and completely different sizes, which is essential to think about when supporting books which are bigger than customary peak, a typical downside with artwork books, cookbooks, and saved “espresso desk” books. Forestall backbone warp and bending by supporting print books correctly in your shelving.
In case your present recipient has steel bookshelves, I need to point out magnetic bookends as an unbelievable possibility for heavy tombs.
Why tech presents for e-book lovers in your life?
Many who romanticize the library area say that they too want to spend all day studying. And with out rudely shushing them, to that I say – most of us want that was truly our job too. Relatively, libraries have at all times been extra involved with connecting individuals to info in essentially the most environment friendly and comprehensible approach doable.
And positive, we try this by serving to of us find books, however many library mission statements have advanced to make sure equitable entry to info in each the print and digital world. At the very least in my previous positions, I’ve spent extra time navigating patrons round info.
That is to not say I do not learn so much, and that I do not love recommending books to family and friends; it is normally off desk hours although. So do not be too stunned {that a} librarian’s dream present information is not solely a present card to your native bookstore, though that is an evergreen suggestion, not simply across the holidays. This listing is the tech that I fantasize about including to my house library, that might enhance my studying and listening expertise.
How ought to I set up my studying area?
I’ll get into bother with my earlier Data Group professor, however my recommendation is that this: set up it in the way in which that makes essentially the most sense to your mind. In the event you like by shade, by golly, set up by backbone shade in your individual house. The way in which I set up is by topic for nonfiction and style for fiction, then by writer’s final identify, as a result of that’s what makes essentially the most sense to me and I like to search out my books rapidly.
In the event you just like the mannequin I described above, listed below are some ideas to consider earlier than you begin creating your individual classification system. We like to check bookshelves with grocery retailer cabinets. You do not have a tendency to search out canned items subsequent to yogurt on the shelf. Equally, you do not normally discover books on how you can backyard subsequent to historic fiction or memoirs.
You possibly can classify your assortment into fundamentals, like non-fiction and fiction. Then, additional part by “genrefying” your books for fiction and deciding the “aboutness” (what the e-book is about versus what the catchy title says) for non-fiction. Get to know your assortment or use an internet free catalog like LibraryThing in the event you actually wish to go above and past.
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