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In an age when almost everyone has some sort of wireless device at his or her fingertips, one might think the local library is becoming obsolete. But in Delaware, the opposite is happening.
On Monday, Gov. Jack Markell, along with State Librarian Annie Norman and a number of other officials, announced at Brandywine Hundred Library that all Delaware public libraries will now offer wireless Internet.
In addition, downloadable eBooks are now available through the Delaware Library Catalog portal at www.lib.de.us. There are currently 1,300 eBooks available which patrons can download to their computers, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader and Kobo eReader.
While many people used to come to the library simply to check out books, nowadays, County Executive Paul Clark said that many people come to the library to research job openings and to fill out job applications.
“The mission of our libraries has changed,” he said.
The wireless capability throughout the Delaware public libraries is funded in part by a Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program grant and from the U.S. National Technology Information Administration.
According to New Castle County Community Services General Manager Marcus Henry, 73,000 people in FY 2011 used the computers in the public libraries. Markell said those numbers show that libraries are as important as ever.
“I am glad the naysayers were proven wrong,” he said.
The eBook download program is now in its testing phase, and more titles will be available in 2012.
“As eBook readers grow in popularity, their users will recognize the value of borrowing online for just the price of a library card – free,” State Librarian Annie Norman said.
In an age when almost everyone has some sort of wireless device at his or her fingertips, one might think the local library is becoming obsolete. But in Delaware, the opposite is happening.
On Monday, Gov. Jack Markell, along with State Librarian Annie Norman and a number of other officials, announced at Brandywine Hundred Library that all Delaware public libraries will now offer wireless Internet.
In addition, downloadable eBooks are now available through the Delaware Library Catalog portal at www.lib.de.us. There are currently 1,300 eBooks available which patrons can download to their computers, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader and Kobo eReader.
While many people used to come to the library simply to check out books, nowadays, County Executive Paul Clark said that many people come to the library to research job openings and to fill out job applications.
“The mission of our libraries has changed,” he said.
The wireless capability throughout the Delaware public libraries is funded in part by a Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program grant and from the U.S. National Technology Information Administration.
According to New Castle County Community Services General Manager Marcus Henry, 73,000 people in FY 2011 used the computers in the public libraries. Markell said those numbers show that libraries are as important as ever.
“I am glad the naysayers were proven wrong,” he said.
The eBook download program is now in its testing phase, and more titles will be available in 2012.
“As eBook readers grow in popularity, their users will recognize the value of borrowing online for just the price of a library card – free,” State Librarian Annie Norman said.
