Longview, TX — The library system is subscribing to a system called Overdrive, which will allow anyone with a library card to access e-books through the library account to read on electronic reader devices such as Kindles, assistant library director Kathy Ballow said.

“This is something patrons have been requesting for the past couple of years, and we always try to meet the changing technology requirements of the community,” Ballow said. “These devices are becoming more affordable and an increasingly large percentage of the local population is using them to do at least some of their recreational reading.”

Once the system is operational, patrons will enter their library card numbers into the Rusk County Library’s web page and then will be able to download any of the library’s available e-books onto their e-readers. Readers will be able to keep e-books checked out for two weeks, the same time limit that applies to regular books.

A limited number of e-books will be available, Ballow said, “And patrons may still have to wait to get the books they want, but this should make it more convenient for them to access new publications.”

Head librarian Pam Pipkin received approval from the Rusk County Commissioners Court earlier this month. It will be paid for by discontinuing some subscriptions the library personnel say are rarely used, so it will not require an increase in the library budget.

Ballow said she’s not worried the new technology will decrease the amount of foot traffic to the county’s four libraries.

Read the full story here.