Digital materials are not so much replacing books at the Lake Forest Library as they are supplementing them.
On March 14, the library began offering patrons access to Hoopla, a service that allows users to remotely download movies, e-books and music to their computers, tablets and smart phones. Patrons can download up to 10 items per month.
The library pays Hoopla a $10,000 yearly deposit with that amount adjusted up or down depending on actual use, said Chris Schoenherr, emerging technologies librarian.
Besides Hoopla, the library offers one-on-one technology training sessions to patrons on their various devices. The library also provides access to downloadable children’s e-books, a downloadable music service, an online tutoring service and a digital media lab.
This spring, digitized copies of the Lake Forester newspaper from 1898 to 1939 will be made available, Schoenherr said.
Though digital options have increased, the borrowing of books has not decreased, librarians say.
“The circulation of print materials, it remains pretty constant,” Schoenherr said. “People just aren’t saying I’m done with reading print books.”
Administrative Librarian Kaye Grabbe says it’s the same nationally.
More Top Picks Best Electric Lift Chairs And Recliners
“The vast majority of people – more than half nationally – use both formats, e-books and print,” Grabbe said. “For some things they like an e-books, like if they’re traveling. The number of people who read only e-books is very low. The number that use only print are higher but not nearly as high as people who use both.”
The digital options allow the library to assist people who normally wouldn’t be checking out books such as the visually impaired or homebound, Schoenherr said.
“The key is to strike a balance between traditional library collections and find ways to continue the library’s mission with the introduction of new resources,” Schoenherr said.
“The parents of very young children want paper books for their kids to read,” Grabbe said. “They feel they have enough access to screens at home.”
However, age doesn’t seem to be a factor in choosing digital resources.
While Schoenherr said the majority of the library’s one-on-one training sessions are on the use of e-books with people aged 70 or older, “an enormous number of young people are using it. They don’t need our help.”