We are increasingly becoming a world dominated by electronics. Things that we never imagined would be electronic have, indeed, made the leap into the e-world. There is an adaptation being made by many entities to become digital. Our libraries are also evolving into the e-world.
The Johnson County Public Libraries are no exception into this evolution. This is evident upon walking through the doors of White River Branch of the Johnson County Public Library (JCPL). Before entering into the adult side of the library, you come across a desk with many brochures on the 3M Cloud Library. JCPL uses this service for their electronic library program. There is information that shows how to utilize the service for almost any electronic reading device. Whether you use an iPad, Kindle, or Nook, you can benefit from this service. You can even download the application called OneClickDigital on your smart phone. There are five e-readers available for loan at each JCPL branch; here, the librarians will download your books for you. The options are numerous.
I was curious about how difficult or time consuming the process would be. I timed the process from creating an online account to the installation of the application on my phone. It was a very simple process that took me six minutes. After I had established my account and downloaded the application on my phone, it was time to browse for a book from the 3,161 books available. They have fiction and non-fiction. There are books that appeal to children, young adults, and adults. Many genres are represented. It is an impressive collection of electronic books.
David Allen is the adult services librarian who often helps patrons in establishing their accounts for the e-library. Allen explained that the library joined the 3M service that acts as a library coalition for electronic books. Many other libraries participate in the program. They purchase the rights to a downloaded book and then make it available for patrons to download. Just like a traditional book from the library, you are allowed only 21 days to have the book. You can renew the book from your device or even return it early once you have finished.
Jean Godfrey was introduced to the e-library by her daughter, Laurinda. Godfrey would be recovering from surgery and needed something to keep her busy while off her feet. She found herself on crutches, and physically going to the library posed many problems. She is an avid reader and was able read several books a day. It was the perfect solution for her. Godfrey states, “I love being able to download the books. It has been a blessing during my recovery. I download, read, and return from wherever I may be. It is very convenient.”
If you are interested in using this program, you can go to www.jcplin.org and click on the OneClickDigital icon. There, you can establish your account. Then, just download the application to your electronic device and you will have an entire library at your disposal. It is an easy access to the electronic library world.
Leigh and her husband Mike have called Center Grove their home for 14 years. They chose Center Grove as the ideal place to raise their two children, Eric and Julia. She is an active member of Mt. Pleasant Christian Church where she writes an on-line Bible study.
