From the The Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia):
A new provincewide library service launched Tuesday in Westville allows borrowers to sit at their home computers to withdraw electronic books, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The digitized tomes, which may be in audio or text format, can be stored in a laptop, desktop computer or on a special electronic reader designed for the purpose and read from the devices’ screens. Audio files may also be stored in hand-held devices for listening and some can be burned to CDs for portability.
“With a free library card and an Internet connection, Nova Scotians can borrow a book anywhere, any time,” said Education Minister Marilyn More. “And there are no late fees.”
[Snip]
The Nova Scotia Provincial Library spent $40,000 to establish a downloadable collection of 646 audiobooks, 378 e-books and more than 200 French titles.
Over the next few years, the rural library boards will jointly contribute $38,000 annually to expand the downloadable collection. “The collection should double by this time next year,” More said.
[Snip]
Tuesday’s launch marked the beginning of the program outside Halifax Regional Municipality, where it has been in use for two years. More than 300,000 Nova Scotians, about one-third of the population, use public libraries, More said.
Access the Virtual Collection at: Digitalmedia.Library.Ns.ca
