Last spring a member of the Friends of Reston Regional Library (FRRL) tried to find an e-book to download from the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) collection. After scrolling through hundreds of unavailable titles, the frustrated Friend asked the question, “Why are they all checked out?”
That question led FRRL to a deeper understanding of the demand for e-books in Fairfax County. They invited FCPL Director Edwin S. (Sam) Clay, III, to a board meeting to explain the issues involved in getting more e-books. His answer was simple. Money.
The discussion and actions that followed resulted in a gift to the Fairfax County Library System of $100,000 by the Friends of Reston Regional Library. The money is already being spent, and there are titles again available through FCPL.
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On Saturday, Oct. 8, at Reston Regional Library, local officials and library friends will gather to celebrate this generous donation, given to FCPL specifically to purchase e-books.
As part of our celebration, the Friends and Reston Regional Library will host a program called “Discover e-books.” This program is a “Demo Day” where we will have a Nook, Sony Reader, and a Kobo Reader. Patrons will be invited to try them out. At a second will have an iPad, iPhone, and Mac laptop set up to demo acquiring the Overdrive app and using it to add books to an e-reader device. Additionally, patrons can bring their own devices, and receive assistance from trained staff in how to download books (FREE) from the ever-increasing FCPL collection.
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Just recently, the Amazon Kindle joined the Apple products, Nook and other tablets in the group of devices that are able to use the Overdrive software to borrow e-books from our library system, so don’t be shy about bringing your Kindle!
Join the Friends at the library on Oct. 8 at 11. Sen. Janet Howell, Del. Ken Plum, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova, Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, and Director of FCPL Edwin S. (Sam) Clay, III will be on hand to help celebrate. Refreshments will be served.
