18 March, 2011
With the growing popularity of e-readers and e-books, you might be wondering which e-reader to buy, where you can get books in digital format, and if they're available at your local library. HCAM News met with Library Director Rownak Hussain to find out what's available in digital format at the Hopkinton Public Library.
E-books are accessed from the library's website and are accessible from the computer workstations at the library, or from the convenience of your computer at home.
"You always start with the library's website," said Hussain, "because all of our services are available from the website."
The first step is to click on the e-books logo on the front page of the website. If you are new to borrowing e-books, you will first have to download Adobe Digital Reader, the software that makes it all work. Once downloaded, you can proceed to the digital on-line catalog. Hussain suggests selecting titles that are available only, since not all books are available in digital format. Once you have selected your book, you add it to your cart and proceed to checkout, where you will next need to enter your library card number. From there, you download the book to your computer and then you are ready for the next step.
Once downloaded to your computer, your e-book is now ready to be transferred to your e-reader. But which e-readers are compatible with the library system? While there are several e-readers available, not all of them work with the library's system.
"Right now, definitely the Nook from Barnes and Noble, the Sony e-Reader, the iPod and the iPad," said Hussain. "These are all compatible mobile devices.
For now, if you are interested in borrowing e-books, you need to have your own device. That may change in the future, but for now Hussain says the devices are expensive, can require maintenance if returned damaged, and they are expensive.
"Our responsibility is to make the content available to people," said Hussain, "not necessarily the devices."
Not all books are currently available in digital format, but Hussain says that the library will grow it's digital collection, but she also says that she has to consider the library perspective.
"Libraries are in the delivery business, " said Hussain. "There will be growth, but at the same time libraries will continue to provide hard copy books as well."
And not all books are available in digital format.
"We will move into new technological advancements," said Hussain, "but that doesn't mean that the older version is going to go away. Everything has its place."
If you are interested in learning more about e-books, visit the Hopkinton Public Library website.
To see the HCAM News interview with Library Director Rownak Hussain, watch the video below.
I
