Libraries help patrons make the most of digital devices

During the holiday season, many Delawareans will be receiving or giving new eBook readers, tablets, and smartphones - and Delaware Libraries have the collections and resources to make sure library patrons can make the most of their digital devices.

Users can download free eBooks and eAudiobooks from Delaware Libraries by browsing the collection at delaware.lib.overdrive.com and using a valid library card. Borrowed titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period.

“Delaware libraries offer an unbeatable value: free checkout of eBooks and eAudiobooks through the statewide online library catalog,” said state librarian Dr. Annie Norman. “And there are never any late fees!”

Delaware libraries’ digital book collection has been available for almost two years, and it has been growing steadily in that time: There are now more than 10,000 titles in the digital book collection. This collection is very popular with library users. November 2013 continued the trend of record-setting borrowing levels. On average, Delawareans download 600 eBooks and eAudiobooks daily from the digital collection.

Starting this year, Delaware libraries are making it easy for users to search beyond the state’s digital collection and provide title recommendations to add to the collection. Readers now have the option to discover and sample excerpts from hundreds of thousands of additional titles that are not part of the current collection. Via Recommend to Library links, users can also suggest titles they’d like to see added to the catalog, giving the library a new method of patron-driven acquisition.