You can now read library books on a Kindle. On Sept. 21, Amazon.com made its popular e-reader compatible to the library online catalog MyMediaMall and another library online catalog.
“I think it’s going to really push the circulation from MyMediaMall up,” said Janice Fisher, the director of the Riverside Public Library. “Kindles are very popular and I think they were very smart to come over to the library market. I personally have a Kindle, so I’m happy.”
Library patrons have been able to check out library books to other e-readers for some time, but Amazon’s Kindle had been a holdout until now.
But now library card holders can download many books to their own Kindles. If they don’t own a Kindle, patrons of the Riverside and Brookfield public libraries can check out a Kindle at the library. The Brookfield Public Library has six Kindles, as well as four Barnes & Noble Nooks and four Sony Readers.
The Riverside Public Library has three Kindles, three Nooks and one Sony Reader available for checkout.
The North Riverside Public Library does not yet have any e-readers.
“We are looking at it and hope to have some shortly, but nothing right now,” said North Riverside Public Library Director Robert Lifka.
However, North Riverside Public Library card holders can download books from the library to their own e-readers.
Library card holders can also download books to iPads, iPhones and other mobile devices using the free Kindle app. Patrons can browse library collections using a computer and download books at no charge with their library card.
“Patrons can download titles from MyMediaMall and not have to purchase titles through Amazon,” said Brookfield Public Library Director Kimberly Litland. “It’s big.”
Bob Skolnik
