Checking Out E-Books | Video

Joel Porter | 4/9/2012

Tablet readers are gaining in popularity, and both the Bismarck Public Library and the North Dakota State Library are embracing the new technology. On Monday evening, librarians hosted a seminar on using the OverDrive database. The online catalog allows cardholders to search nearly 4000 e-books and audio books.

Librarians say those who have iPhones or tablets such as the iPad, Kindle or Nook can search OverDrive relatively easily.

"And when you go into the OverDrive system, probably two-thirds of the e-books are checked out at any one given time. So it`s definitely being used," said Elizabeth Jacobs, a field services librarian.

Besides using OverDrive, librarians say there are also websites that offer free e-book titles, including gutenberg.org. Also, if you type in 0.00 on Amazon`s website, you can find a number of titles for free as well.

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