MontanaLibrary2Go will be expanded thanks to a $35,000 grant from the Steele-Reese Foundation. The expansion of the program will benefit the state’s most rural communities by providing access to downloadable digital materials through their public libraries.
What is MontanaLibrary2Go? It's access to thousands of books downloadable to your kindle or similar e-reader,mp3 player, ipad, or laptop...or even your old pc on your desk at home. It is a convenient way to access books even if you are unable to get out of the house in the winter.
MontanaLibrary2Go is a statewide project of the Montana State Library offered to public libraries through a consortium. The consortium shares a collection of downloadable audio books and eBooks. Libraries in Eastern Montana that offer the service now include Glendive, Colstrip, Big Horn, Culbertson, Fallon, Froid, Glasgow, Miles City, Poplar, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Sidney-Richland, and Wibaux.
Using Library2Go is a great opportunity for people on the go – or who may be on the rigs for days at a time and need something to do.
It's easy to use, just visit http://www.MontanaLibary2Go.org, choose your local library, and enter your card number. If you don't have a card, they are hassle-free to obtain and only take a minute.
In Glendive, library director, Gail Nagle. Said that patrons interested in the program are encourged to ask if they need assistance to access Library2Go. The help is available by calling 406-377-3633, emailing booksrus@midrivers.com, or by stopping in at the Glendive Public Library at 200 South Kendrick Ave.
Why this type of digital services? Sarah McHugh, Director of Statewide Library Resources at the Montana State Library explained that “Montana libraries are continually evolving to provide new services made possible by technology that our patrons expect and demand.”
With the prevalence of portable audio players and eBook readers, Montana libraries have been eager to provide new content in innovative ways. Since its introduction in 2009, MontanaLibrary2Go has shown itself to be a tremendously popular resource. The service provides more than 4,500 audio books and over 1,500 eBooks that can be downloaded free of charge using only a library card.
While the collection has grown incrementally during its lifespan, libraries are still struggling to meet demand. Moreover, budget issues at many of the state’s smallest libraries have made the fee to join the consortium a luxury rather than a necessity.
With the $35,000 grant from the Steele-Reese Foundation, the Montana State Library hopes to alleviate some of these barriers to service. The grant will serve two primary purposes: expand the number of participating rural libraries and further expand the collection of audio and eBooks.
The library system next plans to increase their downloadable media collection by at least 2,000 eBooks and at least 8,000 audio books. These additions will essentially double both collections, substantially reducing wait-time for desired items.
Comments