Friday, July 3, 2009

Libraries in OverDrive

Link to July 3 La Crosse Tribune article, "Libraries embracing digital media".

Excerpt: The Winding Rivers Library System, comprised of 34 public libraries in the La Crosse area, paid $2,437 this year for access to the digital content provided by OverDrive. That’s less than $100 per library.

Under the license agreement, libraries can’t circulate a copy to more than one patron at a time. But there’s no need to return items at the end of the seven-day loan period: The files simply stop working.

“There’s no such thing as a late charge on these things,” Krieg-Sigman said.

Among other benefits, the files are available to any patron with a library card and a computer, no matter where. On a business trip or on vacation, if you can access the Internet, you can download a book.

And since there’s no need to lug around multiple cassettes or discs, the digital format is more convenient for listening while traveling, exercising or gardening, said Kristen Anderson, education consultant for the Winding Rivers Library System.

The OverDrive catalog has been available for a couple of years, Anderson said, but now that the offerings have grown to include about 4,000 audio books, music and videos, libraries are promoting it.

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