Library gets tech savvy with new e-readers

Times Reporter 

 

Have you ever looked at an e-reader and wondered if you should buy one, but you don’t want to spend the money without knowing for sure that you’ll like it? The Strathmore Municipal Library understands, and thanks to having some spare funds, they may be able to help you answer that question. 

“We had a little bit of extra funds left over from last year’s programming budget, and from that we decided to purchase three Kobo e-readers. This is starting to be a very popular program amongst libraries,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services. 

“You love reading books and you think ‘maybe I would like to try an e-reader but I don’t know if I’m going to like using one.’ This gives you an opportunity to try one out finally.”

There are three Kobo e-reader kits that are being lent out to registered Strathmore Municipal Library cardholders. The loan period is four weeks, which is a little bit longer than it would be for a book. Each one is already preloaded with approximately 100 public domain titles. They also come with a user guide and instructions on how to use Overdrive. 

“When you (borrow) an e-reader you have free reign to download whatever books you want on this e-reader,” said Erison. 

“The only things to remember with the e-reader are that they’re not renewable and patrons are responsible if they are damaged for the replacement cost of them.”

Erison said it is sort of a test run, and the idea is to give people a chance to try one out, and be able to determine if they wish to buy their own, which is why people will likely only get one four week shot with one. 

The Kobo e-readers are the basic ones, not a touch screen and very easy to use. Staff at the library will also be able to help anyone who may have questions.

“We would ultimately like to have what’s called an e-device petting zoo. So that you can come to the library and try all different e-devices, slowly but surely we’ll make our way through,” said Erison. 

Having the three new Kobo e-readers isn’t the only exciting news for book lovers. They also now have a new DAISY reader kit, which was obtained from a grant through CNIB.

DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is designed to be a complete audio substitute for print material and is specifically designed for people with print disabilities. 

“It’s a very specialized item. What it does is it uses simple features that make it very easy for clients to navigate through a book or magazine. The DAISY readers and the books can be borrowed for up to six weeks,” said Erison. 

DAISY is essentially a reader that will read audio books to the visually impaired. There are magazines and books to borrow in conjunction with DAISY if people wish to have them. 

“We’ve been wanting to get this going in the public for quite some time and I think it’s going to be a very popular program with us,” said Erison.