New technology is coming to the Signal Mountain Library, according to Library Director Karen Glendenning, who was the guest speaker for the February meetiung of the Signal Mountain Community Guild.
"As of March 1, we will expand our services with the addition of downloadable audiobooks and eBooks that will be available on the Library’s web site. Library card holders may check out and download digital media anytime, anywhere, by visiting and clicking ou our eBook link."
The Signal Mountain Library is fortunate in that it will be able to partner with the Chattanooga Library, she said. This will save money and will make available the combined collection of the two libraries. It’s a very complicated procedure and the library staff is working its way through the process so that it can foresee problems uses might encounter. Detailed instructions will be available and the staff will be there to help.
Users may browse the lists of available titles, check out with a valid library card and download to their computer or other mobile devices. Users will need to install free software and/or OverDrive Media Console. To read eBooks, users will need Adobe Digital Editions. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period. There are no late fees.
In the beginning, there will be 656 fiction titles and 97 nonfiction itles in eBook format. In the eaudiobook format, 422 fiction and 110 nonfiction titles will be offered. New titles will be regularly added to the digital collection.
"We are especially excited about this new addition to our collection and look forward to hearing from our patrons what they think of the opportunity to download eBooks and eaudiobooks to their personal devices. We are working hard to be ready to answer what we anticipate will be lots of questions about this new feature for our Library."
In addition to having books on hand, the Library also has several weekly activities for all ages.
There is a Chess Club Monday nights which attracts young people who are in chess clubs at their schools and who compete in tournaments and several men who coach them.
A large group of home schoolers have been practicing a play and will soon put on a performance in Bachman’s theater.
A creative writing class Monday nights is led by Bruce Palmer, open to anyone who thinks he or she may be interested in learning to write better.
Storytime is on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Last week there was a special visit from the READ 20's Stewart Payne and his Readmobile. He read several books to the children and gave each one a free book. He is coming back May 1 at 11 a.m..
A summer reading program is planned for each Tuesday in Juie and July, featuring a wide variety of activities.