Digital Bookmobile Stopping at MCPL

May 08, 2012

While the eBook revolution has redefined readership, it has also redefined the concept of the bookmobile, as MCPL customers will see when the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile makes two stops at MCPL in May.

The vehicle may as well be called the OverDrive Digital Playground, as it features a host of eBook platforms that customers can literally get their hands on in order to gauge the feel and functionality of the current crop of devices. The bookmobile’s "Gadget Gallery" includes: Kindle, Nook, and Sony Reader devices in addition to the Android tablet, iPod touch, and both BlackBerry and Windows phones.

The Digital Bookmobile is stopping at MCPL in part to celebrate the recent rise in eBook readership at the Library. Dates and locations are:

Tuesday, May 15
Liberty Branch, 1000 Kent St.  [get directions]
1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 16
Colbern Road Branch, 1000 NE Colbern Rd. [get directions]
1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

So, what about this rise in eBook readership? Thus far in 2012, the Virtual Branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library has provided more than 32,000 eBooks and audiobooks for customers every month, which is a 20 percent increase over statistics reported a few months ago in December 2011. This downloadable content accounts for more circulation traffic than two-thirds of MCPL branch locations – but still just half the number of items checked out at the Liberty Branch.

This Virtual Branch is made possible by the digital content provider OverDrive, a name already familiar to our eBook readers.

Click here for a quick video preview of the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile.

The OverDrive Digital Bookmobile is intended for a wide audience: those who are still just curious about eBooks and would like a 101-style introduction, the early adopters who want to get a feel for the latest eBook gadgetry, and anyone who wants to learn about the full array of digital content offerings from MCPL.

MCPL Electronic Resources Trainer Kathy Jo Robb got a sneak peek at the multimedia bookmobile at the Digipalooza Conference in Cleveland last year. 

"I loved spending time in the Gadget Gallery. Anyone who doesn’t have a device and is trying to decide on one to purchase will benefit from getting to interact with the devices,” Robb said. “Hands-on experience with a device before making a purchase can really influence the decision."

Robb and her fellow eReader experts will be on-hand throughout both OverDrive Digital Bookmobile events to help answer customer questions about eReader devices, or the download process.

MCPL staff members will also be on-hand to offer reading recommendations for customers seeking suggestions on eBook(s) they might want to download onto their own device.

And eBook readers are of course welcome to participate in any of the ongoing book discussion groups hosted throughout the MCPL system; click here for book group dates and locations.

MCPL would like to thank Northland Rolladium Skate Center for their help in bringing the Digital Bookmobile to our community.

Northland Rolladium Skate Center
1020 Kent Street
Liberty, MO 64068
Visit kidsskatefree.com to get your free skating tickets!

Paul Smith
Community Programming Manager