Boston, MA - September 6, 2005 - Thanks to a new service from the Boston Public Library (BPL), patrons can access materials at a speed that would make Paul Revere envious. Now anyone with a BPL card can checkout, download, and listen to their favorite classic book or a current bestseller from the convenience of their home or office. The new online service is available to patrons by visiting http://overdrive.bpl.org.
With an extensive collection of about 2,000 audio titles the new digital library promises to offer something for everyone. The collection, selected by library staff, gives patrons instant access to bestsellers and classics, fiction and non-fiction, from popular authors and leading publishers.
"The customers of the Boston Public Library look to us for the newest technology, and this is one more example of our meeting that need," said BPL President Bernard Margolis. "We offer wireless technology in every neighborhood of the city through our branches and now by letting our customers download and borrow audio books, the BPL continues to be on the forefront of library services."
The digital library was designed to be intuitive and easy to use. Patrons download and install free reader software, then browse and choose titles. To check out they simply enter their library card, and then download the Audiobooks directly to their computer. Patrons can have up to 10 Audiobooks out at a time and can listen to them on their PCs and a wide-variety of portable audio players. The titles can even be burned to CD and played on any standard CD player.
The system also eliminates late fees through an automatic return feature. At the end of the lending period the files automatically expire and are immediately available for the next patron. OverDrive, Inc., the leading vendor of downloadable audio books for libraries, supplies the technology for the new service.
To browse downloadable audio books, grab your library card and go to http://overdrive.bpl.org. If you don't have a card, drop by any branch to get one and to learn about all the doors it can open.
