The Auburn Public Library has announced plans to move eBooks and downloadable audiobooks to Cloud Library, which will officially launch May 11.
The library will be moving its electronic titles from its old platform, OverDrive, to Cloud Library, which will provide patrons of the library with a free, easy-to-use service to access available content.
To access Cloud Library, patrons will have to download the Cloud Library app, which is available for iPhone, Android, Nook tablets and Kindle Fire tablet devices.
The Cloud Library app will not be compatible with basic E Ink e-readers such as Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Voyage, Kobo Glo or Nook GlowLight Plus.
According to Brandon Rowland, digital services specialist at the Auburn Public Library, users will be able to download available titles through Cloud Library straight to their devices.
After two weeks, the title would be removed automatically, thereby preventing any accumulation of late fees as well as providing users with their reading or audiobook materials on-the-go.
“Currently, we have about 4,000 titles available online,” Rowland said. “Over the several years that we’ve had it, we’ve seen exponential growth in our digital content downloads. Currently, we’re averaging around 2,000 check outs a month just in our OverDrive platform alone.”
The transition from OverDrive to Cloud Library will not cause a loss of available electronic titles, and more are planned to be added in the future.
Cloud Library will also allow Auburn Public Library to integrate its eBook check out system into the self-check out process.
“If you come in and check out a new James Patterson book and we also have that in eBook when you self-check out, you’ll see an option on the screen that says, ‘This is also available in eBook, would you like to download now?’” Rowland said. “That should add an extra layer of convenience for people that are coming into the library to check out physical books.”
Online titles are currently one of the most in-demand items for patrons of Auburn Public Library, with 25,411 online check-outs having been recorded in 2016 alone.
Auburn High School English teacher Davis Thompson is fine with the public library using funds to expand its online services.
“I’m fine with it because I use their online stuff at times,” Thompson said. “I prefer real books, but it’s a good service.”
The Auburn Public Library will discontinue its use of OverDrive on May 9. On May 10, all eBook and online audiobook services will be unavailable until the next day.
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