Mitchell library ventures into e-books

• Ebooks at library

Mitchell Library Director Jackie Hess holds a Kindle reader as she also browses the e-book titles available for download on South Dakota Library Network website. The ebooks are now available, at no charge, to library cardholders. (Ross Dolan/Republic)

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• Mitchell library website

While many paper and ink purists will shake their heads in disgust, the reaction of many younger library patrons will likely be, “it’s about time.”

E-books are now available online through the Mitchell Public Library website, mitlib.sdln.net, at no cost to library patrons.

“People have been asking for ebooks,” said Mitchell Library Director Jackie Hess. “We’re a mobile society and this is the technology of the day.”

While the library has had, and will continue to have audio books, Hess said, this is its first foray into ebooks. The library pays about $3,100 a year for access to the service through the state library website.

Using the web link, digital bibliophiles can use their Blackberry, iPhone or Android mobile phone, iPad, laptop computer, Nook or Kindle reader to download books from a list of roughly 2,100 titles. A link on the Mitchell Library site connects readers to the South Dakota Library Network and OverDrive, a global distributor of e-books. Titles are being added monthly, Hess said.

Audio books also can be downloaded to phones, iPods or MP3 players, via the site.

The user friendly site, Hess said, shows readers how to set-up their personal computers and handheld devices. E-books must be downloaded from a personal computer or device via the Web; they cannot be downloaded at the library and the library does not have Kindle or Nook readers for loan.

“Readers can browse the titles any time, 24/7, and place them in a virtual shopping cart,” Hess said.

The titles must be downloaded within 30 minutes or they will disappear from the cart. Titles not immediately available can be reserved.

Loans are for two weeks and returning the book isn’t necessary. At the end of the two-week loan period, the digital copy will disappear from the borrower’s computer or handheld device and will become available to other library patrons.

Tags: e books, life, updates, library, books, local, mitchell