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A digital books deep dive

Unless you’re new to planet Earth, you will have noticed that Airdrie Public Library (APL) is now offering many of its programs virtually on our website, along with a gaggle of online e-resources.
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Although Airdrie Public Library is closed, digital books are still a great option for readers. Photo Submitted/For Airdrie City View

Unless you’re new to planet Earth, you will have noticed that Airdrie Public Library (APL) is now offering many of its programs virtually on our website, along with a gaggle of online e-resources.

This week, we’re going to take a deep dive into one of these resources - digital books.

Just about every publisher offers its latest releases in ebook or audiobook format, downloadable to common e-reader devices such as Kindle and Kobo and available through online streaming.

For those with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive impairments, this kind of access can be a lifesaver during this stay-at-home directive due to the pandemic.

Authors like Neil Gaiman, Helen Hoang, Brad Taylor, Stephen King and Dr. Seuss are just a few whose books can be found in digital and audio format.

Most computers and devices allow for screen optimizing to help with visually impaired users, and many of these devices also allow for volume and sound shaping for blind and auditorily impaired users who prefer audiobooks.

APL, of course, has a vast selection of both ebooks and audiobooks available through a variety of online services found on our website.

While there are tens of thousands of titles available, some digital services have holds and waits just like in the real world. Others require no downloading or special software.

Hoopla, Libby and a few other have holds and waits, and with so many people staying at home and accessing these services, it’s possible to be in a queue waiting for your selection to be available.

Others, including more recent additions to our e-resources, do not have holds or waits. Thes include AudioBook Cloud, RBdigital, Read Alberta eBooks, while the more recent include RomanceBook Cloud, TeenBook Cloud, Tumble Math and more.

As you can tell, eBooks are not just old books, though there are a legion of classics available in digital and audio format.

Ebooks, like their analogue cousins, cover the full spectrum of genres, including comic books, teen fiction, and children’s picture books.

For access to all this great literature, go to airdriepubliclibrary.ca/eResources

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