The past two years one of the most popular holiday gifts to give and receive has been an e-book reader. Amazon’s Kindle, Sony’s Reader, and now Barnes and Noble’s Nook have perennially topped the list of most popular gifts. All the e-book readers are based on the recent development of so called e-ink technology. For the first time, the resolution of text on screen rivals that of ink on paper. Frequent travelers and commuters find e-book readers particularly useful because they can carry hundreds of titles on a compact device. Avid readers are also falling in love with e-book readers and the instant gratification of downloading their next must read. Amazon announced that on Christmas Day, for the first time ever, they sold more electronic books than physical books. All those lucky people that were gifted a Kindle trying it out, no doubt.
Not to be left off the gift list, the library will be purchasing e-book readers in 2010. We plan to start checking them out on a trial basis to see if it is a sustainable service and one that is popular with customers. We hope that patrons who don’t already have an e-book reader will the find the library’s reader a good way to try one out before purchasing. The e-book readers will also be a way for us to get more copies of current bestsellers available to our customers quickly.
Another tech development that is sure to keep growing in 2010 is the trend towards downloadable and streaming movies over broadband Internet. Amazon, Blockbuster, and Netflix are all getting into this service in a big way. Users can now download and stream hi-def movie releases over their broadband Internet connections to their digital video recording (DVR) devices. No more waiting for the newest release or even leaving the comfort of your couch. A few clicks of the remote and voila. I’ve noticed that several models of new hi-def televisions are coming with a DVR built-in and gaming consoles are adding this capability. Amazon, Blockbuster and Netflix have made 1,000’s of movies available for download. I think this a big trend as more people get broadband Internet to their homes. Public libraries will be able to take advantage of this trend by offering collections of free digital video recordings.
Don’t miss our programs beginning this month:
Menomonie Reads Sherman Alexie’s award-winning coming of age novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Kickoff is January 15 @ 6:30 p.m. at the Dunn County Historical Society’s Rassbach Museum.
Crime Club adult mystery book discussion begins January 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the library. Discussion led by Jessica Moyer. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell will kick off this exciting new book group.
Thanks to all who remembered the library this year with a gift to our Foundation or Friends group. All gifts are tax deductible and go a long way in helping the library provide materials and programming that benefit all.
