Richmond County libraries will now have access to more than 200,000 eBooks, available for free download online.
In addition to the 200,000 books published between 1923 and 1999, more than one million public domain titles along with a small collection of recently published titles are available.
The books can be read online in a web browser, or downloaded and transferred to a compatible portable device like a Nook, Sony Reader or Android phones. Amazon’s Kindle is not supported at this time.
iPad users can access the books using the bookreader via the Safari browser or by using the Bluefire reader application. The PDFs don’t work on iPad, but users can read the ePub formats instead.
“This is really exciting because now people who are looking for a book can just access hundreds of thousands of titles right from home,” said Jesse Gibson, Richmond County libraries director. “New books are being added every day.”
To use Open Library, visit the web site www.srls.info/ and click on NClive.org. Next, click on the box labeled “eBooks,” and select “Open Library.”
A free sign-up is required to borrow eBooks from the website. A sign up link can be found in the top right corner of the Open Library eBooks page.
Users who choose to download and transfer eBooks will need to install Adobe Digital Editions, a free download link is available on Open Library.
“This is a great thing, because these days everything is electronic,” said Adrienne Williams, Leath Memorial Library supervisor. “People are used to having access to information at the click of a key. Open Library can provide that, and users don’t have to worry abut returning a book on time — it’s automatic.”
North Carolina is the second state, after California, to provide statewide access to the eBook platform. Since N.C. first signed on, about a dozen other states have joined the sharing partnership.
The book-sharing platform is a collaboration between state libraries, NC LIVE and San Francisco based group Internet Archive.
“We’ve seen the demand for eBooks increase at our libraries, so we’re thrilled to be taking part in this project,” said Gibson.
— Staff Writer Kelli Easterling can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at keasterling@heartlandpublications.com.
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