Digital downloads — a library collaborative (clc.lib.overdrive.com)
• What it offers: wide variety of ebooks and eaudiobooks, fiction and nonfiction, for all age groups.
• What it works on: personal computers, Kindle Fire, Nook, iPad/iPhone and other mobile devices.
• Locally offered by: Washington Centerville Public Library (wclibrary.info) , Greene County Public Library (greenelibrary.info), Lane Public Library (Hamilton, Fairfield and Oxford, lanepl.org).
Freading (www.freading.com)
• What it offers: this service offers ebooks in e-publication or PDF format to libraries. Library patrons with a valid library card can borrow titles for two weeks (with the option to renew for an additional two weeks). Tokens limit the number of titles that individuals can borrow.
• What it works on: personal computers installed with Adobe Digital Editions; it also works on Kindle Fire (but not other Kindle devices), on iPads and iPhones, on Nook devices, as well as on a few other tablets and Ereaders.
• Locally offered by: Wright Memorial Public Library (Oakwood, wrightlibrary.org) ; Lane Public Library, Lebanon Public Library (lebanonlibrary.org), Germantown Public Library (germantown.lib.oh.us).
Ohio eBook Project (ohioebooks.org)
• What it offers: offers eBooks, audiobooks, music and video to Ohio library patrons. The Ohio eBook Project is a large consortium of Ohio libraries that provides downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, music and video to library patrons. Launched in 2005, this statewide project helps libraries provide these services at a considerable savings. The State Library of Ohio manages the project, and helps libraries provide these services at a significant savings to the member libraries.
• What it works on: For eBooks — Kindle, NOOK, Sony Reader, and Kobo. For audioebooks, music and video — personal computers and many mobile devices.
• Locally offered by: Wright Memorial Library, Mary L. Cook Public Library (Waynesville, mlcook.lib.oh.us), Greenville Public Library (Greenville-publiclibrary.org), Lebanon Public Library, Lima Public Library (limalibrary.com), Preble County District Library (pcdl.oh.us), Tipp City Public Library (www.tippcitylibrary.org).
OverDrive Digital Downloads
• What it offers: wide variety of ebooks and eaudiobooks, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as video and music, in all genres and for all age groups.
• What it works on: personal computers, Kindle Fire, Nook, iPad/iPhone and other mobile devices.
• Locally offered by: Dayton Metro Library (daytonmetrolibrary.org), New Carlisle public library (new-carlisle.lib.oh.us)
Zinio (www.zinio.com)
• What it offers: more than 5,500 magazines in digital format, in just about any category, including art, news, travel, home, lifestyle, and so on. Well-known titles (e.g., Newsweek, Reader’s Digest) are available as well as more specific titles. (I myself am rather intrigued by The Explorers Journal.) While you can buy subscriptions from Zinio, you can also borrow magazines with a free account and your library card number.
• What it works on: For borrowing digital magazines, this service works on personal computers, iPhone and iPad, Kindle Fire, and several other mobile devices.
• Locally offered by: Wright Memorial Public Library, Washington-Centerville Public Library, Dayton Metro Library, Lane Public Library, Lebanon Public Library, Preble County District Library (www.pcdl.lib.oh.us).
Be sure to visit these libraries’ websites to learn more about additional digital offerings. Also, many libraries provide free classes about how to borrow and use digital materials. Be sure to check out those classes, as well as the online help resources.
Other Literary Life news
• Wednesday is the deadline to apply for Antioch Writers’ Workshop’s Young Writers’ Scholarships: Young writers ages 15-18, to attend the Full Week workshop July 6-12 at Antioch University Midwest. Open to Young Writers in the greater Dayton area, the program provides scholarships that cover more than half of the regular cost of attending. Young writers must submit a three-page writing sample and a letter of recommendation to be considered; application deadline is May 29. Details: See the Young Writers page of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop website (www.antiochwritersworkshop.com).
• Saturday (by midnight) is the deadline to enter the Greyden Press book competition. The local company helps authors who opt for self-publishing; the competition will award more than $9,000 worth of prizes. The competition is for writers of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books. Visit www.greydenpressuathors.com/competition for details and entry form.
• Saturday, at 2 p.m., Dayton Metro Library, Brookville Branch (425 Rona Parkway, Brookville): Crystal Hoblit, author of “Catching Raindrops,” about a 12-year-old girl who visits Dayton in 1913 when the great flood strikes, will talk about her novel and her process for writing it; copies will be available for sale and signing.
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