eBooks for Free!

SCLS Patrons Can Download Thousands

Bridgewater, NJ.  January, 2012. – Amazon and Barnes & Noble are not the only places to download eBooks this Holiday Season.  The Somerset County Library System (SCLS) has literally thousands of books available for eReader owners.  Perhaps the best news of all is the price:  FREE!

“This holiday season, it seems eReaders are everywhere.  So, we need to make sure that we have the reading materials in the format that our patrons want it in.”  Brian Auger, Director of SCLS continued by adding that “with over 6,900 titles available directly through our library system, we are offering library card holders more titles in electronic format than almost any other library in the State.”

Recognizing the popularity of the eReader as a gift this year, “gift cards” have been created to raise the awareness of patrons about the availability of free eBooks.  The colorful cards are free and available at all nine of the SCLS branches and make a nice bonus to include in an eReader gift package.

Patrons with a library card and pin number from SCLS can access the digital media collection 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any location where they can obtain an internet connection.  Step-by-step help, Quick Start Guides, and Frequently Asked Questions are all available at www.sclsnj.org, the library system’s website.  Help is also available by email through bwref@sclibnj.org or by calling 908-526-4016 ext. 105 during library hours.  Finally, the library staff has been trained to help patrons with the five most popular eReaders: iPad^®/iPhone^®/iPod^®, Kobo^™, Kindle, NOOK^™, and Sony^® Reader.

“We want to make sure we are getting information into patrons’ hands when, where and how they want it,” says Electronic Resources Librarian Richard Loomis.  “Not only have we expanded our eBooks collection extensively, we also offer downloadable audiobooks, music and video.  We are also now utilizing a free smartphone app to let those patrons access their account and other important library information quickly and easily anytime and anywhere they want.”

Google Chromebooks and Playaways round out the new additions to the library system’s quest to keep patrons plugged in.  Both are available through the Hillsborough Library.  Google Chromebooks can be borrowed for four hour periods within the library, allowing patrons to access the internet through a WiFi connection.  A Google account is needed for any productivity computing as all software on the device is managed through Google apps and cloud computing.

Playaways are self-contained audiobook players with one title available on each device.  Patrons need to supply their own earbuds to listen. 

Patrons with further questions can call SCLS at (908)526-4016 ext. 105 or enter the website at http://www.sclsnj.org.  The Somerset County Library System has branches in Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, at the Mary Jacobs Library in Rocky Hill, North Plainfield, Peapack & Gladstone, Somerville, Warren Township and Watchung.