Judy Sgammato and the other staff members at the Darien Library appreciate it when readers stop in. But starting Aug. 15, library patrons won't have to leave their homes to get books. The Darien Library is introducing a new service called OverDrive, which will allow cardholders to download audiobooks and ebooks for rental, just as if they had checked a book out of the library.
"What we particularly like about OverDrive is that they have popular, up-to-date titles, things that people are reading," Sgammato said. "This is what our patrons want."
The service will be available on all of the library's computers. But patrons can go straight to the source by installing the OverDrive Media Console on their own computers and then downloading books through the library's website from anywhere.
Sgammato said that with more people purchasing e-readers such as the iPad and Kindle, it was time for the library to offer ebooks.
Library cardholders will be able to download audiobooks and ebooks onto any MP3 player, iPod or e-reader. Each downloaded file lasts for 21 days, but patrons can check out a book again as long as no one else has it reserved. Some publishers allow a rental to be burned onto a CD, making it yours to keep.
The library will offer pamphlets explaining how to download the software. And all customer service staff members will be trained to give one-on-one walkthroughs for the process.
"Some people just prefer to listen to books, as opposed to reading themthey commute, or they garden and just listen," Sgammato said. "So we're going to make sure that that core group of people is aware prior to the launch and ready to go."
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
