Larchmont Library Embraces Digital Age: eBooks Now Available For Borrowing

As our culture shifts into the digital age, libraries in Westchester are keeping up with the times.

This year, the Larchmont Library purchased over 1,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks for their patrons, with a combination of popular titles like Bossypants by Tina Fey, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, as well as lesser-known—but no less significant—history and non-fiction titles.

“We are trying to build up a collection,” said Assistant Library Director June Hesler about the quickly burgeoning compilation.

According to Hesler, the Westchester Library System (WLS) has been purchasing eBooks and eAudiobooks for years through Overdrive, the WLS service where books and audio can be downloaded.

EBooks can be downloaded directly from the Overdrive site and read on electronic devices such as the Apple iPad and iPhone, the Barnes and Noble Nook and, soon, the Amazon Kindle. The eAudiobook can be downloaded to a computer for transfer to a digital device such as a MP3 player or directly to a handheld device such as an iPhone, an iPod touch, Android phone or a Blackberry.

The upside to all this is convenience.  Patrons never have to step foot in the library, but can simply go online to download the eBook or eAudiobook.  After two weeks, the checkout period automatically expires, with the book being made available for another patron, obviating the need for a frenzied trip to the library to avoid overdue penalties.

As with any popular book title, there may be a slightly longer lag time between when a popular eBook or eAudiobook is requested and when it becomes available for perusal, although the library plans to solve this problem by purchasing additional copies of titles that are especially well liked.  Further, the Larchmont Library’s eBook and eAudiobook collection will only be available to people who have library cards from the Larchmont Public Library branch.

“This is a restriction placed on the eBooks by the eBook vendor and is not something the library can control,” said Hesler, who urges people to log into Overdrive with their library card number to be able to view the full array of titles their individual library offers.  The Overdrive site can be accessed here.

Library Board Chair Pamela Dubitsky noted that before libraries were able to offer their own eBooks, “demand has far exceeded WLS's ability to provide adequate numbers of titles; popular titles are in such demand that some people are on extensive wait lists, with one current bestseller having an almost five-year wait list!”

The Larchmont Library was able to acquire their current collection through a $10,000 donation from the Briar Foundation for eAudiobooks, $5,300 from the Friends of the Larchmont Public Library for eBooks and $5,000 from the Boehning Family for Young Adult titles.

But, the question still remains: How will eBooks affect readership of “regular” print books?

“None of us think that regular books will die,” said Hesler, continuing, “It will definitely impact the popular fiction and non-fiction titles.”

Further, Hesler added, another advantage for eBooks will be their portability; rather than lugging several heavy books on vacation, for example, people will be able to carry all their “beach reads” in one place.

Nine area libraries will be offering eBooks and eAudiobooks including:

•  (Armonk)North Castle Public Library
•  (Montrose)Hendrick Hudson Free Library
•  Bedford Free Library
•  Briarcliff Manor Public Library
•  Chappaqua Library
•  Eastchester Public Library
•  Harrison Public Library
•  Larchmont Public Library
•  Mount Pleasant Public Library
•  Scarsdale Public Library

 And, while many are embracing the new technology enthusiastically, there is still a core group of bibliophiles that continues to be loyal to good old-fashioned bound books.

“Print is still alive,” said Hesler reassuringly.

What do you think about eBooks?  Will they replace print books eventually?  Tell us in the comments section below.