Magness Library books can be checked out online

Are you an avid reader who has a badly sprained ankle or perhaps had surgery that precludes a visit to the library? Are you disabled or home bound? Caring for a homebound relative? Or maybe you?re just unable to visit the library during regular hours because of the nature of your job, or lack a means of transportation.

Whatever the situation, Magness Library is reaching out to you with an innovative new program called READS (Regional eBooks and Audiobook Download System). If you have a home computer, and a valid Magness Library card, you will now be able to check out eBooks or audiobooks over the Internet, all from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

?It?s really exciting to have it here for our patrons,? said Magness Library director Mary Robbins. ?Anyone can go in on their home computer and use their library card to access the READS Web site and check out books.?

The READS Web site is located at http://reads.lib.overdrive.com. To use the system, all Magness Library patrons have to do is visit the Web site and fill out a simple form to set up their account by picking out their region from a Tennessee map. We are in the Caney Fork region.

Library patrons simply choose Magness Library from a drop-down list and enter the number from their Magness Library card. Once that is done, patrons will be required to download free software and install it on their computer, all of which is covered at the Web site with a simple set of instructions.

That?s it! Soon they will be ready to check out items from the large selection of eBooks and audiobooks included on the Web site. The system is much like checking out a regular library book, except electronically. Patrons can read the book on their computer or download audiobooks to CD or into their personal music player, as long as it accepts files in the WMA (Windows Media Audio) format.

The system works on Digital Rights Management, which allows users a certain amount of time to read or listen to the materials, and then automatically makes them no longer accessible.

Of course there are some rules. Materials can be checked out for 14 days and there is a limit of eight items per card, according to the Web site. Books can be put on hold, but after the user is notified by e-mail the book is available they have three days to download it.

Robbins says she feels the program will be a boon to Magness Library patrons.

?I think it?s wonderful,? Robbins said. ?It expands our service to the community and expands our outreach, and it will enable people who, for whatever reason, are not able to come to the library to actually check out books and read them at home.?

For more information on this program, come by or contact Magness Library at 473-2428.