The print age is still alive. But, new technology rarely eludes staff at Morton Public Library.
Is it challenging for staff at the library?
“Oh, yes!” laughed director Janice Sherman. “I think, secretly, they must love it, because they stick around.”
The market is still far from saturated by electronic readers, but the technology is gaining momentum in the digital age. Sherman is enthusiastic about two new pieces of technology that are available for use by library-goers.
Personally, however, Sherman is still a page turner, not a button pusher. She still enjoys holding a publication in her hands.
“For those of us who grew up in the print era (electronic readers) will never beat that,” she said.
Despite her personal preference, she knows that ignoring the future would be a big mistake for the library. Stories will continue to be told, but the medium in which readers find those stories may change.
“People have an innate love of story,” said Sherman. “They will always have that.”
Whether readers choose to gather stories through book rentals or digital downloads is another story.
Morton Public Library currently owns an Amazon Kindle and a Sony Reader. Both devices are small, hand-held units that display text and images through a black-and-white LCD screen.
Sherman has played with the bells and whistles of each, finding pros and cons for each device.
“The Amazon Kindle is all based on buying,” Sherman said. “It’s like shooping at Amazon online.”
She said the Kindle’s main strength is its wireless capabilities. Users can connect to a network and download books and newspapers anywhere.
“It’s literally one-click ordering,” she said. “It’s really fast.”
Currently, however, it seems Morton Public Library members would get the most bang for their buck with Sony’s Reader.
“The Sony Reader works best with the library,” Sherman said. “(Members) can download books (free) from home.”
Sherman also enjoyed the Reader’s touch-screen functionality, which did not limit her interaction to buttons.
Sherman said users will find strengths and weaknesses in both devices. But, with the Alliance library system, she said members will have free access to thousands of books that would otherwise have to be purchased through the Kindle.
Both Amazon and Sony have released newer models of their electronic readers that likely address some of the issues users might find with the devices currently owned by the library. Sherman said the library is waiting on a Barnes and Noble Nook. And, the interest is certainly there, Sherman said.
