Lincoln Public Library staff introduce patrons to the world of electronic borrowing

[January 20, 2015]  LINCOLN - The first “device day” program of the Lincoln Public Library was held January 17, 2015 in the library’s annex. April Jensen, circulation manager and her colleague Hannah VanSlambrouck guided six attendees in accessing the library’s audiobook and e-book collections using their laptops, tablets, netbooks, iPads, or smartphones. These various devices enable patrons to download vast reading resources, including some books published only electronically.

Jackie West, who enjoys reading eBooks on her iPad, notes that she reads about five books a week and likes the convenience of downloading books onto the iPad. Avid electronics reader Marita Schneider is another reader received assistance setting up applications to allow checking out and reading e-books. She asserted that it is like “learning a new language.”

Becki Shreve, a substitute teacher, downloads e-books using a laptop, smartphone, and tablet. Noting all the technologies used in today’s classrooms, she likes to keep up with technology. Tracy Bergin wanted to learn how to download eBooks to her smart phone, as she had not used much of its technology.

Jensen indicated patrons can check out as many as five e-books and audiobooks up to fourteen days through Lincoln Public Library’s consortium by searching “My Library.”

Jensen and VanSlambrouck provided handouts with terms to remember and step-by-step instructions for accessing the e-books. They also showed various applications and sites allowing access to the library’s collection. They instructed users to first download “Overdrive,” an “application that allows you to checkout and read e-books, listen to audiobooks, and watch videos from your local library on your tablet, pc, or smartphone.”

Another application demonstrated was “3M,” which “allows library patrons to browse and borrow audio books and e-books.” For downloading and reading magazines, patrons can use Zinio. A site called “Library on the Go” “allows member libraries and their patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and videos for download.” When patrons use this site, they choose the book they want to check out, click on borrow, and sign in to “Library on the Go” using their library card number and four digit PIN they have set up. They must then download the form of the book, whether it is a Kindle or ePub version. The devices also need to be registered with an account with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, or Google Play Store in order to utilize these applications and websites.

Jensen encouraged attendees to “play and have fun” as they navigated these sites, noting “that is the best way to learn.” She said that the library would likely have more programs like this one and that anyone who has trouble using the sites should “feel free to call or come in to the library and ask any of our staff for help.”

[Angela Reiners]