Whitefish Bay Public Library joins statewide e-book buying pool

Whitefish Bay Public Library joins statewide e-book buying pool

 Digital downloads of electronic books (e-books) are growing in popularity, and the Whitefish Bay Public Library along with the other libraries in the Milwaukee County Federated Library System are participating in a statewide program to purchase $1 million in new content in 2012 for the Digital Download Center (http://dbooks.wplc.info ) sponsored by the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC). You also can access the Digital Download Center through the WFB library website at www.wfblibrary.org.

            Available to all Wisconsin residents, the Digital Download Center offers e-books, audio books, videos and music that you can download to devices like iPods and other MP3 players, Kindles, Sony eReaders, Nooks, and iPads (to name just a few). For a complete list of supported devices, visit the Digital Download Center and use the link near the bottom of the left column.

                        The project took flight in May of this year when the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) of the Department of Public Instruction sponsored a statewide e-book Summit. The primary recommendation from that Summit was the need to establish a statewide e-book buying pool. In follow-up action, a committee from the summit, along with the WPLC, set a target goal of allocating $1 million for e-books and audio book purchases. This goal has now been met.

            In addition to the $700,000 in funding from the state’s 17 library systems and their 385 member public libraries, the DPI has earmarked $300,000 for the e-book purchasing pool with anticipated federal LSTA grant funds awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).   The Digital Download Center now offers about 5,000 titles, but this collection will grow dramatically in 2012. The $1 million infusion will make this a very robust online library of downloadable materials.

            While all new titles will not be available immediately, the purchase of new titles has already begun and will continue throughout 2012 and beyond.

            For more information, contact the adult reference desk at 964-4380.