E-Readers have steadily gained popularity in the book market in a way that has forever
changed the way book stores sell books. The question remains, how will libraries react to and work with e-readers and the digital age?
After introducing E-Books to their readers, the Edmonton Public Library has gone one step farther to lend out E-Reader devices. Introducing E-Readers to the book borrowing community is one way to encourage continued library use. Technology is a critical part of today’s culture that needs to be embraced.
Still, E-Readers have made reading easy and convenient and this has reflected positively on libraries. A report mentioned in the Metro Edmonton said that Canadian library usage has increased by 45 percent over the past ten years. Many people attribute this increase to the rise of E-Books and E-Readers. Most Alberta Libraries now offer E-books and online databases to their borrowers.
Satisfaction is not always guaranteed, however, as demands for certain books far exceeds libraries’ lending ability. Libraries face the daunting task of getting digital copies from publishing companies for lending purposes. With E-Book prices being considerably lower than book store prices, how long will borrowers be willing to wait to borrow a digital copy?
For more information about increased digital library use, please see the following article from theWashington Post.com.
