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Libraries Lend eBooks, too!

Information from Rock Island Public Library

With all the news about eBooks, many wonder how digital reading affects libraries. The truth is that libraries are a part of the digital world, offering downloadable books to patrons as an additional choice. eBooks and audio titles join the many great choices in regular and large-print books, books on CD, Blu-Rays, DVDS, magazines, CDs and more to check out at your local library.

Libraries in Iowa and Illinois offer the OverDrive digital book and audio collection. In Illinois, the Rock Island Public Library and many others belong to the Online Media of Northern Illinois buying group. Known as Omni Libraries for short, the group offers access to more than 3,500 titles in digital format. Though this is a separate catalog from the RiverShare system, the digital buying group also allows member libraries to share resources and save money. Iowa libraries use the WILBOR consortium. As long as your library belongs to either group, you can check out digital books and audiobooks.

Checking out from a library represents a significant savings. Compatible devices include the Kindle and Kindle Fire, Sony® Reader, Kobo Readers, NOOK™, Android™, BlackBerry® and Windows® Phones, and many tablets, including the Mac iPad®. iPods® and iPhones® are also compatible. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a portable device. Titles automatically expire at the end of the lending period, so there are no late fees.

Information about free OverDrive classes and links to online help are available at www.rockislandlibrary.org. To start downloading, take your library card to the nearest computer and click the OverDrive link.