I have 2 Nooks, a tablet, a smartphone, an MP3 player, and a desktop computer, all of which, at one point or another, I have used to download and read an ebook or audiobook from the library.
I hear you. You love the feel of a real book. That new book smell is to die for. You don’t have to charge a print book, its software won’t malfunction, and you don’t need wifi to check it out. I understand.
But, ebooks can’t be stolen. They can’t be eaten by pests, damaged by spilled Kool-aid, torn apart by a two-year-old. You can’t get fined for a late ebook; they return themselves. And if you finish book one in a series at two in the morning, you don’t have to wait for the library to open to check out the next one. You can check out from anywhere, any time. Even in your pajamas at three in the morning.
Not that I’ve done that…
Take ten library books with you on vacation, and fit them all comfortably in your purse. Read always-available classics for school or just for fun. Highlight and take notes directly in the book and erase them when you’re done. Change your font size to whatever you want, no waiting for a special edition. Adjust the brightness of the screen to read in bed without the hassle of a book light. Save your spot without bending pages. Keep track of books you’ve read, share your reviews, and save a wish list of books you want to read.
Now, because of two new additions to our ebook resources, we’re saying goodbye to long waiting lists on popular titles. One is Axis 360, a completely new collection just for Dover Public Library patrons. The other is our special Advantage collection through the Ohio Digital Library. These titles are also only available to Dover Public Library patrons. Can’t find The Fault in Our Stars on the shelf? Want to read Linda Castillo’s books on your Kindle? Try the Ohio Digital Library and Axis 360!
Don’t get me wrong, I still have print books. I still love print books. I still love going into bookstores. After all, it’s harder for an author to sign a digital book. It’s harder to loan a friend your digital book. And a tablet sitting on the table is less impressive than a complete set of hardcover Harry Potter books on a bookshelf. There’s just more than one way to read a good book.
Need ebook help? Check out our ebook page on this website, email me, Liz, at strausel@doverlibrary.org, or call us at 330-343-6123. We’ll be happy to help you get the most of our ebook collections!
Happy e-reading!
Liz
Teen Librarian