Digital Bookmobile hits road

Online access to media highlighted on tour

special to viewVisitors experience media aboard a Digital Bookmobile during one of its stops across the nation. special to viewVisitors experience media aboard a Digital Bookmobile during one of its stops across the nation. Advertisement

Why go to the library when books can be downloaded to a handheld device or a computer? A bookmobile touring the valley demonstrates how residents can easily access the world of digital libraries.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District plans to host the Digital Bookmobile from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road; on Monday at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Avenue; on April 7 at Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive; and on April 8 at the Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive.

The Bookmobile is a free, immersive download experience inside a 74-foot, high-tech tractor trailer.

Karen Bramwell, public relations manager for the library district, said digital options are an added convenience.

"Whatever it takes to get our patrons reading, that's what we're for," she said.

Visitors can learn about digital downloading through interactive demonstrations on the Digital Bookmobile and experience the library district's audio books, e-books, music and video download service.

The Digital Bookmobile is equipped with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high-definition monitors and premium sound systems.

The Bookmobile has pop-out sides to allow it to expand, much like some recreational vehicles.

The experience includes hand-held devices -- iPods, MP3 players, BlackBerrys, cell phones and Microsoft Zune -- so visitors can better understand the downloading options.

Lauren Stokes, virtual library manager, said she hopes at least 500 people check out the bookmobile during each stop.

The bookmobile is sponsored by OverDrive, a media services company, which contracts with many virtual libraries.

The tour is a nationwide one that began last August in Central Park in New York City.

Patrons can take advantage of the library district's download service by visiting the district's Web site at www.lvccld.org and clicking on "Experience Digital Downloads." That allows one to browse the growing collection of books, movies and music any day, any hour. A valid library card is needed to check out a digital title. Once downloaded, digital titles can be viewed on a computer or transferred to mobile devices. Many audio titles also can be burned to audio CD.

At the end of the lending period, titles automatically expire and are returned to the digital collection to be downloaded by someone else. Like regular books, only one copy can be "checked out" at a time. Unlike regular books, there are never late fees or damaged items.

Currently, the download automatically expires in 21 days. The district is considering offering patrons optional time lines of one, two or three weeks.

Pat Marvel, director of marketing and community relations for the library district, said access to digitized library materials does not mark the beginning of the end for brick-and-mortar libraries.

She pointed out that the computers at the library are always being used, which tells her that some people don't have access to computers at home. She said library buildings still are needed to host book discussion groups, computer learning classes and summer reading programs.

"I think we'll always have a library, no matter how much technology advances," Marvel said.

The library district has had a virtual library component since 2002. It consisted of the Web site and database and about 800 e-books. Now, counting e-books, e-audio, videos and music, the library district has roughly 10,000 titles.

Stokes sees virtual use of the library system embraced by youngsters and teens.

"They've never known a time without cell phones, without computers," she said.

The library district said that a total of 12,050 people have signed up for the digital download capability since Jan. 1, 2005, and that 6,562 of them checked out at least one digital format item between July 2008 and January. A total of 39,072 items were checked out in that time period. Top titles included books from the Twilight series, "Midnight" and "A Survivor's Guide to the Titanic."

"Some patrons download 15 books at once," Stokes said.

One of them is resident Paul Scott, a software designer, who uses the system all the time. He likes to download movies, TV series and documentaries.

"It's wonderful. It's a pretty good software program, and it's full of features, like you can book mark where you left off," he said.

His only complaint: he would like to see libraries across America interconnected, so he could access even more titles.

Will there come a day when bound books are not produced any longer? Stokes said no.

"It's not going to go the way of the stone tablet," she said. "People still like to curl up with a book."

Contact Summerlin and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.