For Immediate Release:
February 10, 2014
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. More than 46,000 free e-books are currently available to Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) cardholders. To enhance the e-book experience, SCCLD has joined ReadersFirst, an international coalition of libraries committed to improving e-book access and services for public library patrons. Organized by librarians representing 292 library systems and 199 million readers, the international coalition developed the ReadersFirst Guide to Library E-Book Vendors.
“Library users enjoy the convenience of reading a great novel or learning from research materials anytime, anywhere,” said President Mike Wasserman, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors, and Delegate for the County Library District Joint Powers Authority. “I am pleased that everyone with a computer, smartphone or tablet can now remotely access and manage their own library accounts.”
ReadersFirst is committed to enhancing the role libraries play as valued and trusted information providers and advocating for more open and user-friendly e-lending services. Consequently, the ReadersFirst Guide to Library E-Book Vendors will help SCCLD assess the functionality of e-book distributors' platforms based on a patron’s ability to:
- Search one comprehensive catalog to access all library offerings;
- Place holds, check out and renew items, view availability, manage fines, and receive communications within the single source;
- Seamlessly enjoy a variety of e-content; and
- Download e-books that are compatible with all reading devices.
According to a 2013 Pew Research Institute report, 43 percent of Americans ages 16 and older own a tablet or an e-book reader and the percentage of adults who read an e-book in the past year rose from 23 percent to 28 percent.
“Improved technology combined with an influx of available e-books was the perfect fit for our staff to begin using the ReadersFirst Guide,” said Megan Wong, SCCLD Virtual Library Manager and Library District’s representative to the ReadersFirst coalition. “We look forward to providing an improved e-book experience for our readers.”
Santa Clara County Library District started offering e-books in 2007. Since then, the number of e-books available at the Santa Clara County Library District continues to rise annually.
To view ReadersFirst Guide to Library E-Book Vendors, visit: www.sccl.org/readersfirst
To view the Pew research Institute Report on e-book reading, visit http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Tablets-and-ereaders/Findings.aspx
About the Santa Clara County Library District
Known as one of America’s best 100 public libraries, the Santa Clara County Library District promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Its collection includes more than 1.9 million books, videos, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from home or work.
For twelve years, the Library has ranked as one of the best in the nation for its size by Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings. Also recognized as one of America’s 2013 Five Star Libraries by Library Journal, the Santa Clara County Library District is one of the most-used public resources in the region.
The Santa Clara County Library District includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In 2013, the Santa Clara County Library District had more than 215,000 library cardholders and welcomed 3.2 million visitors who borrowed 9.7 million items. Visit Santa Clara County Library District online at www.sccl.org.
Contact:
Gwendolyn Mitchell/Marina Hinestrosa
Office of Public Affairs
(408) 299-5119
Derek Wolfgram/Mark Fink/Lili Smith
Santa Clara County Library District
(408) 293-2326 ext. 3002/3010/3014
