Wake County libraries embrace eBooks

Raleigh, N.C. — Readers don't have to leave their homes now to check out a book from Wake County Public Libraries.

Wake County libraries has opened one of the region's first program to let users check out eBooks.

The library has about 150 digital titles and offers five copies of each. Staff add new titles from The New York Times' Best Sellers list each week.

Library staff shifted funding from the existing budget for print books amid growing demand for an eBook program, said Danielle Clark, with Wake County libraries.

"I think a lot of people got eReaders for Christmas," Clark said.

People with a valid Wake County library card can go the library web site, browse the virtual collection, and download an eBook to their home computer.

Books can be read either on the home computer or transferred to compatible eReaders, including the Sony Reader or Barnes & Noble's Nook. Amazon's Kindle is not compatible because it uses properietary software.

Developers are working on apps for iPads, Androids and BlackBerry smart phones.

Books can be checked out for up to three weeks and are automatically returned at the end of the check-out period – meaning no late fees for patrons or lost books the library has to replace.

"That would be wonderful," said Tiffany Wheeler, who had brought her two sons to the library. "We have trouble returning books."

"We don't have to worry about people dropping books in the bathtub or losing them on an airplane," Clark said.

Clark said she's happy to be part of a wave of libraries who aren't clinging to their hardcovers but are embracing electronic forms of reading.

"This is a great way for people to read however they want," she said.

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Way to go Wake County Public Libraries! My son and I check out a dozen or so books every other week at the libary, and we use the online system all the time to request books from other locations. We've got the free downloadable versions of e-readers on our computers, and an iPad, and will be thrilled to check out eBooks. One thing that disappoints me a bit is the method the libraries are using to select titles: the NYT Bestsellers. Of course they're popular, but there are thousands of new and lesser known authors out there from small presses who would flourish in this check-out model. I read faster than my favorite authors, and am constantly in search of new minds. Hope they broaden their wings a bit for the selection process.

dsickles
August 11, 2010 11:46 a.m.

junkmail0987: "Part of fiscal responsibility to the public they serve is to maintain an up-to-date collection, and decades-old scientific journals don’t qualify."

I disagree. While I can agree that we don't need 100 copies, any book is valuable, and especially scientific books. I'm not referring to the 8th grade science book. I offered to donate a collection of books to the Wake County and was told that they'd likely all be sold, not made available to the public. Ditto for magazines. I'd love to see those on microfilm, if nothing else. Some have great lasting value. I have tried getting certain older, yet valuable books and the library cannot get them. Perhaps the universities have them, but that's not convenient for everyone.

As I see it, the libraries are useful primarily for making the current best-sellers available. The library is of no academic value.

paulej
August 6, 2010 9:32 a.m.

I like iBooks myself ;)

Baybee Doll
August 5, 2010 7:55 p.m.

I have to say that this is a fantastic system. I have had the opportunity to use it on the day Overdrive went live at Wake. The eBook system has a lot of benefits: saves on gas and travel, font size can be adjusted to user preference (great for vision impaired), uses standard ePub format which works on many eBook readers, requires less storage space for libraries, books don't ever wear or need replacement, and my favorite, books are automatically "returned" to the library.

Great job!

barik
August 5, 2010 6:57 p.m.

rick_slick: Way to copy "parts" of the story. That story is specifically about using e-readers in a university classroom. It has nothing NOTHING to do with a library! SMH!!

IMHO
August 5, 2010 5:01 p.m.