Published on Thu Aug 11 17:30:00 BST 2011
Hundreds of keen readers have signed up for Derbyshire County Council’s new eBook loan service with more than 200 registering in the first 48 hours.
Within a week of the launch, library members borrowed 373 eBooks for free - downloaded to their eBook reader, PC, laptop or up-to-date smartphone.
And to date, more than 500 people are using the service, borrowing more than 530 titles.
Since the service was launched on Monday, July 25, a flurry of new people have joined the library with an increase from an average 20 per month to more than 100 in July and August.
To start downloading you have to be a member of Derbyshire County Council libraries.
Derbyshire County Council leader and cabinet member for culture Cllr Andrew Lewer said he was delighted with the response.
He said: “The eBooks are proving very popular and I am pleased we have been able to offer this innovative new service.
“We have a great selection of titles to choose from and I think people are enjoying the freedom of downloading a book quickly and easily to their own eBook reader or smartphone.”
Cllr Lewer said the new system was flexible with borrowers able to set their own borrowing times - up to a maximum of 21 days - as well as reserve a book for free.
He added: “There is no need to worry about paying fines. You get a 24-hour warning when the loan period is up after which the book deletes itself from your device. It could not be easier.”
The current top three eBook reads in Derbyshire are A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French, The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry and The Age of Ra by James Lovegrove.
Other titles proving popular include ipad for Dummies and The Rough Guide to Windows 7.
Library members can choose from more than 600 titles including the latest best sellers as well as old favourites. The eBook stocks include fiction, travel, teenage fiction and children’s books.
To find out more about the service, browse the online catalogue and download or reserve up to five books for free, 24 hours a day, go to www.derbyshire.gov.uk/ebooks. Anyone who is not a member can join online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/libraries. The eBooks are free to borrow like any library book but you do not need to visit a library to borrow one.
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