Fannie Brown Booth Library
The Fannie Brown Booth Library has expanded its services to include digital audiobooks and eBooks, available to download from the library’s website. Library card holders can check out and download digital media anytime, anywhere by visiting http://www.centerlibrary.org.
Users may browse the library’s website, check out with a valid library card, and download to PC, Mac®, and many mobile devices Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a variety of devices, including Kindle, Nook, iPhone, iPod®, Sony® Reader™, and many others. Wireless users can download directly to mobile devices. Some audio titles can also be burned to CD to listen on-the-go. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period. There are no late fees! Library card holders determine the amount of time for checkout.
Joan Huff, library program manager, states, “We are pleased to be able to offer this service and expand our collection of books. The Brown Foundation of Houston provided the funds that enabled us to develop this digital library.
Directions for downloading books to your reading device are on the website. However, library staff will be available to assist first time users.” Ms. Huff further explained that the library joined a consortium provided by OverDrive, a leading full-service digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video. The consortium currently has ten East Texas libraries as members.
“By joining the Piney Woods Consortium we are able to immediately provide thousands of digital books for checkout. As part of the Brown Foundation grant, we will be able to purchase books exclusively for our library card holders. This will enable our members to get bestselling titles quickly and more efficiently. There will be challenges as we all learn to use this new technology. If one frequently uses Amazon and other online bookstores to download books, there will be fewer difficulties in learning how to checkout free library digital books.
The process is very similar with the exception that library books are free. Depending on the digital book reader one uses, there will also be free software on the website to download. We are hoping that our users will be patient as we all learn together,” said Ms. Huff.
