Libertyville's Library Without Walls

Since 2007, has offered patrons a collection of ebooks and digital audio books available for checkout. On Nov. 15, the library will hold the first of three free sessions titled, iPad, Kindles, and Nooks, Oh My!, to educate patrons on how to find and use this collection.

“We’re going to focus on how to use the library digital books with the device you have or are thinking about getting,” said Susie Pasini, the adult services librarian and reader’s adviser. She will be giving the presentations. “It’s pre-holiday, and a lot of people may be thinking about purchasing one of these devices.”

The library owns a collection of iPad, Nook, and Kindle devices that are used for staff training and will be available during these sessions, as a hands-on tutorial.

“We had this digital collection before there was a huge demand, and just about a year ago, there was a surge in ebook interest,” Pasini said. “It’s a very fast-paced, explosive industry going on right now, and libraries are holding on, trying to be relevant for the dedicated users.”

Pasini says the Cook Memorial Public Library District is part of a consortium of 60 Illinois libraries that offer My Media Mall as a service to access digital audio books and about 5,000 ebooks. The collection is compatible with dedicated readers as well as iPhones and laptops.

“You can get a Kindle app on your phone or your computer and check out books,” Pasini said. “There’s so many different devices and ways of accessing it, that it can be a little bit overwhelming. But when you pull it down to what you are thinking about using and what works with your lifestyle, it’s really very easy and convenient.”

Checkout Materials When You Want

My Media Mall is accessible through the library’s website. They call it the “library without walls” because it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week through patrons’ computers, smart phones, or tablets. The OverDrive Media Console app, the application used to access the digital collection, is free and easily downloadable. Pasini says that interested patrons should consult the library references desks to see if their device is compatible and to get help with setup.

“There’s a huge number of devices that are compatible,” Pasini said. “It’s really neat at this point. Digital material doesn’t replace print. That’s going to be a long time coming. But people aren’t carrying five paperbacks in their suitcases. People who have print disabilities can change the font and make it bigger, as opposed to holding a big heavy book.”

Library Aims to Reach Different Groups

Pasini says that offering this digital collection goes along with the library’s mission to reach many different people. She also believes the library’s collection of devices someday also might be used for circulation or at a gadget display or tech bar within the library, to reach those who do not have access to these amenities.

Registration is required for these events. The Nov. 15 session will be held at the at 7 p.m. The second session, also located at Cook Park, will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 18, and the third at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Aspen Drive.