Rock Island, IL - April 14, 2016: The Rock Island Public Library launched a new service today for conveniently accessing digital e-books and audiobooks, the eRead Illinois Program. The statewide e-book platform expands access to e-books across Illinois through partnerships among the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), Illinois Heartland Library System, Illinois State Library, and Baker & Taylor book and entertainment distributor.
eRead Illinois offers Rock Island Library cardholders an easy-to-use, no worries option for checking out digital items anywhere, anytime. Patrons may:
- Check out up to five e-books or audiobooks at a time.
- Return any item early, which resets the checkout limit status.
- Place up to five items on hold, putting others on a wish list for easy access later
- Renew items, as long as no other patron has it on hold.
Digital items return automatically, so there are never any fines for late return. Material options include current and backlist best-sellers and popular materials, a large collection of children's picture books and easy readers, and many lifestyle books, such as cooking and how-to manuals, that were previously unavailable in digital format.
eRead Illinois runs on the Baker and Taylor Axis 360 digital media platform, providing libraries and their patrons with a state-of-the-art system for circulating digital e-books from the eRead Illinois shared collection. “RAILS selected Baker & Taylor’s Axis 360 platform for the eRead Illinois grant because of the breadth and depth of available titles, the flexibility of options to meet the diverse needs of our libraries across Illinois and the ADA compliance of the Baker & Taylor Blio ereader. Equal access for all users in RAILS member libraries is very important to us,” said Dee Brennan, Executive Director of Reaching Across Illinois Library System.“
With Axis 360, Rock Island Public Library patrons can access cloud-based delivery of e-books and audiobooks across a number of devices including iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows, NOOK® and Sony ReaderTM devices, and many more. Axis 360 is compatible with newer model Kindle Fire HD tablets (3rd generation and later.) The Blio e-reading application is fully accessible for persons with visual impairments. It offers enhanced titles that combine print and audio narration in a single product, and that works across a broad range of devices.
eRead Illinois started in December 2013, as part of a two-year statewide program designed to increase access to e-books for Illinois residents and grow e-book expertise among library staff, library system staff, and Illinois residents. Initial funding for eRead Illinois was provided by a grant from Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White through the Illinois State Library. The project is now self-sustaining through member fees paid by participating libraries.
To access the eRead Illinois collection, start at the Rock Island Library website, www.rockislandlibrary.org, or go to http://ripl.axis360.baker-
Device compatibility information is available at library locations and Rock Island Library website. To set up a time for one-on-one, personalized assistance on using the eRead collection with your device, contact the Rock Island Public Library Reference Department at 309-732-7341.
Other popular digital options available to Rock Island Library cardholders include hoopla digital e-books, audiobooks, music, movies and comic books, Freegal music downloading and streaming, and Flipster digital magazines.
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