I hate eBooks.  And eReaders.  And all their moms.  Punks.  If you ask me – and you should – Kindles and Nooks and ipads are everything that is wrong with America, singlehandedly and singlemindedly replacing the heart in our lives with the sleek and slender sex appeal of the machine.  Another machine.   But my own begrudging vendetta against the digital demon is not going to slow the rise of the growing popularity of these glowing, little devices.  They’re nifty and travel size for your convenience.  They make noise and have buttons.  The screen has colors on it.  It’s the whole package, friends.  So advanced, it’s almost like the real thing (you know, those papery things on your shelf)!  Whether or not you agree with me and my soap box is your own choice, but for those who enjoy the novelty, the Louisville Free Public Library has something nice and shiny for you this Holiday season – and you won’t even need to stand up or put pants on to get it!

With thousands of eReaders nestled under many an American tree this year, waiting in shiny paper for Sunday morning, the Library is prepared to tempt your  new touch screen with some delightful (and did I mention, free?) reads for your digital bookshelf.  Free, downloadable eBooks are now available for all library cardholders – 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  Working in conjunction with OverDrive, a national provider of e-reading materials, the Louisville Library now offers over 5,000 digital titles of general non-fiction, mysteries, biographies, histories and other genres, with more to the catalogue to come.  Readers can check out three titles at a time for two weeks and fear no late fees, as an automatic expiration date will end the loan.

Those interested in this new-fangled technology can stop by the library for free classes on eBook readership and the fancy process of digital reading.  The next seminars will take place tomorrow, December 20^th, at 7pm at the Shawnee branch, and on January 3^rd at 6pm at the Main branch downtown.  Classes are scheduled through February and the full list can be found on the Louisville Free Public Library website.  Whether you’re a traditional stickler like me, or you thrive in the fast pace of modern gizmos and gadgetry, the Library has always got your favorites for free.  Stop by your local branch – or twindle away on your touch screen – and find the title that lights your literary love. 

For more information on using Library eBooks and eBook loans, visit the Library website

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