Giving the gift of technology has been a popular present choice in recent years as tablets, smartphones and eReaders have come down in price.
If you are considering giving a device this holiday season, or getting one for yourself, the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) has created gift packets filled with brochures and information on the free digital collections library members can enjoy on their eReaders or tablets. You can pick up the packets at any ORL branch to include with the present, as well as Kelowna Tickets in the Orchard Park Mall and Simply Computing in downtown Kelowna.
The library system’s eResource collection includes digital books from the ORL eBooks collection, eAudiobooks from the OneClickdigital collection, eMagazines from Zinio for Libraries, and independent movies through IndieFlix. All of these digital collections are available through the ORL website at www.orl.bc.ca.
To get the most out of the library’s digital content, you will first want to confirm what eReaders and tablets will work with the ORL’s digital collections.
“We don’t recommend a particular product, but want to ensure everyone is aware of the difference between devices and consider what they’d like to use the device for before purchasing”, says Virtual Branch Head, Chantelle McGee. “We have a ton of links and guides on our website and in branches to help inform people and get them started using our free digital collections available on our website.”
If you want to read eBooks only, an eReader might be the way to go. Note a computer or laptop is also needed to transfer library eBooks on to the eReader. When it comes to brands of eReaders, keep in mind that Kindle eReaders, such as the Kindle Paperwhite or Touch, cannot be used to read library eBooks because Kindle eReaders do not support the eBook formats that Canadian libraries offer.
If you want to read eBooks and eMagazines, listen to eAudiobooks and watch movies, a tablet can be a better choice.
Most popular tablets running current software can work with most or all ORL digital collections, including iPads, Android tablets, and Kindle Fire tablets.
To get started using the ORL’s digital collections, a library card, PIN/password and email are also required.
“We created the gift packets as a way gift-givers can include content with the tech device”, says Marla O’Brien, the ORL’s Public Relations Manager. “Although branches are closed during the holidays, the online content is always available, so library members could realistically be reading free eBooks within an hour of opening their present!”
Meanwhile, All 29 branches of the Okanagan Regional Library will begin their annual holiday closure period beginning Wednesday, Dec. 23 and will resume their normal operating hours on Saturday, Jan. 2.
As of Wednesday, Dec. 2, the three-week loan period for physical items such as books, CDs and magazines was extended to five weeks to ensure borrowers could keep their items over the closure. One-week loans such as “Quick Reads” and feature film DVDs will be available for a three-week period starting Sunday, Dec. 13.
Loan periods will revert back to normal when branches reopen in the new year.
If unsure, anyone can check due dates of their items by logging into their online account.
Book bins will be closed during this time and library members are urged to not return items until the library is open in 2016.
The website, including the ORL’s catalogue and all digital resources, will continue to be accessible 24/7 throughout the branch closure.
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