Ridgewood Library e-book checkouts for April 2012 were up 419% when compared to April 2011
62% of Library Users Don’t Know They Can Check Out E-Books [STUDY]
by Andrea Smith
As reading habits shift from printed to digital ink, public libraries are struggling to raise awareness of their digital offerings.
The introduction of tablets and dedicated e-book readers has changed the way we read. Now, you’re just as likely to find fellow commuters or waiting-room dwellers reading an e-book as a physical one.
While our libraries are busy trying to keep up with the rise of e-books, it turns out their patrons don’t know there are e-books available for lending.
Some 62% of respondents to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project’s latest library survey said they didn’t know if their library offered e-book lending.
In reality, three-quarters of public libraries in the U.S. offer this service. The problem is, not enough people are taking advantage of it, or even know about it.
In fact, only 12% of Americans over the age of 16 who read e-books say they’ve borrowed one from the library in the past year….
Librarians like Chris Yurgelonis, Assistant Director at the Ridgewood Public Library in Northern New Jersey are working hard to change those patterns. She tells Mashable e-book checkouts for April 2012 were up 419% when compared to April 2011. That might be because of an aggressive awareness campaign she and the rest of the staff have implemented….
https://mashable.com/2012/06/22/libraries-are-lending-e-books/
It is worth getting a library card for this.
Do I have to go to the library to check out an ebook? If I can do it from home it will save me money. The Kindle is great.