BEGINNING JULY 19, CHECK OUT DOWNLOADABLE BOOKS
Beginning July 19, downloadable books will be available for check out from Hennepin County Library via
www.hclib.org. This launch is a test of the ePub book format and the library will evaluate the service for sustainability and ability to expand access, including a cost recovery option.
Almost 700 titles will be available for downloading. Titles include adult, teen, and children's bestsellers, new releases, and classics. For example, the Library's collection includes nine of the top 10 titles on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list (including all three of the Stieg Larsson titles), Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" books, children's books by Kate DiCamillo and Mary Pope Osborne, and Junie B. Jones titles. All of Hennepin County Library's eBooks are also available at Hennepin County libraries in the traditional print format.
"Making eBooks available is only the latest innovation from our world-class Hennepin County Library," said Commissioner Mike Opat, chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. "We know that many people who read electronically wind up reading more, so providing books in new formats is a great way to help our kids and families read and learn."
An eBook is a digital or electronic version of a paper book. Instead of being printed on paper and bound into books, the text is formatted into a digital file and read via a special eBook reader, computer, laptop, or other electronic device. To download an eBook from
www.hclib.org, you will need your library card barcode number.
Who is reading eBooks? Just about anyone who loves to read and likes the convenience of eBooks — including techno-savvy people young and old; busy professionals who now can access a book at all hours, anywhere; travelers who don't want to lug along a stack of books; visually-impaired people; kids and teens on the go; anyone who has ever had to stand in line waiting. The list is endless.
Hennepin County Library is offering the eBook format in response to customer requests. The public has asked for eBooks on a daily basis. Library staff builds and maintains a customer-focused collection by anticipating and responding to needs and expectations. Offering downloadable eBooks supports Hennepin County Library’s commitment to lifelong learning and access to technological advances.
eBooks offer existing library customers a new format, but also are a means for Hennepin County Library to reach out to people who otherwise may not use the library. Hennepin County Library is the first public library in the Twin Cities metro area to offer the format.
eBooks may be downloaded to several types of portable devices, including the Sony Reader and Barnes & Nobles’ Nook. A complete list of supported devices can be found
here (
http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/compatibleebookdevices.aspx).
The Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad currently cannot be used to download eBooks protected with Adobe DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Due to restrictions on the number of portable devices that can be supported by each computer, eBooks cannot be downloaded at a Hennepin County Library computer. This practice is consistent with other libraries.
To download an eBook, go to
www.hclib.org beginning July 19 and click on "Downloads" on the left side of the webpage.
7/1/2010
