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Library offers e-reader seminar

Date: 1/10/2011

Jan. 10, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — Did you get an e-reader for Christmas and now you wish you knew how to use the darn thing?

The East Longmeadow Public Library wants to help.

The library will host an e-reader information session on Jan. 11 to teach library patrons how to use the C/W MARS system's e-book catalog. The session will start at 6:30 p.m. in the community room.

"We've found the interest in the system has gone up as the cost of the e-readers has gone down," Reference Assistant and Webmaster Sharon Bellenoit explained. "We noticed, especially after Christmas, people coming in and asking for help."

The information session will include a representative from Barnes and Noble Booksellers, who will demonstrate the Nook. The library will also have its recently-purchased Sony e-reader available for patrons to try. Both devices are compatible with the C/W MARS system.

It was recently reported that Barnes and Noble's sales of e-books surpassed those of hard cover and paperback books, lending to the evidence of the popularity of the technology, which Bellenoit admits the library staff is still getting accustomed to.

"It's a learning experience for us, as well," Bellenoit said.

Bellenoit stressed that the information session will not be a sales pitch for the Nook, but rather an opportunity for the library to "promote our digital catalog."

With e-readers, anyone with a library card can log on to the system and "borrow" a book for a period of seven or 14 days, according to Bellenoit.

"It's a great service if you enjoy the e-readers because you don't have to worry about returning books and there are no late fees," Bellenoit said. "Once the borrowing period is over, you'll have to delete files off the device, but that's it."



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