11:45am | Free eBooks and downloadable audiobooks from the Long Beach Public Library will be showcased next month when the Digital Bookmobile National Tour comes to town. Find the Digital Bookmobile at the Second Saturday Art Walk, Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 4:00 – 10:00 pm, on Linden Avenue between East Broadway and East First Street, Downtown Long Beach.
“As an avid eBook reader, I’m delighted that our Long Beach Library is expanding its use of technology that will enrich our community in many ways,” Mayor Bob Foster said. “This event will make it easier and more convenient for residents to access books and other increasingly popular services that our Library offers.”
At this free event, readers of all ages can learn how to download eBooks and audiobooks through interactive demonstrations and high-definition instructional videos. Bring a Long Beach Public Library card or apply for one at the event for an opportunity to receive a Kindle Touch, provided by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation.
Residents can take advantage of the download service 24/7 by visiting the Library’s new Downloads webpage, www.lbpl.org/downloads. Browse the growing collection of bestselling, new release, and classic titles, and check out a digital title with a valid Long Beach Public Library card. Once downloaded, digital titles can be enjoyed on a computer or supported mobile device. Many audio titles can also be burned to CD. At the end of the lending period, titles will automatically expire and return to the digital collection. There are never fees, nor worries about late or damaged items with this service.
“Long Beach Public Library staff is excited to welcome the public to tour the Digital Bookmobile while enjoying the Art Walk. Stop by with your eReader, mobile device, and library card. Overdrive and Library staff will be on hand to answer your questions and help you take advantage of this unique and free service,” said Glenda Williams, Director of Library Services.
The Digital Bookmobile is housed inside an 18-wheel tractor-trailer. This 74-foot community outreach vehicle is a high-tech update of the traditional bookmobile that has served communities for decades. The vehicle is equipped with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high definition monitors, premium sound systems, interactive learning stations, and a variety of portable media players, all of which help visitors explore Long Beach Public Library’s download service. The gadget gallery — featuring an iPad2, Android tablet, Nook, Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Creative Zen and more — will help visitors discover portable devices that are compatible with the library’s download service.