Dare County Library Foundation sponsors digital books
The Dare County Library Foundation recently reaffirmed its commitment to support the Dare County Library's digital library. In 2012, the library began offering eBooks to its customers through the 3M Cloud Library. The first years platform fee and initial funding for individual eBook titles was from the Library Foundation, no public funds were used. The Library Foundation Board has agreed to again underwrite the second year platform fee for the 3M Cloud Library, which is garnering more and more users each month as new eBook titles are always being added.
Additionally, the Dare County Library Foundation has just approved funds to pay for two new digital initiatives, which will become available to Dare County Library customers in September of 2013.
Zinio is an online collection of digital magazines (similar to ebooks). The library will be offering approximately 75 titles to our customers. Zinio allows multiple users to access the same magazine, so there are no holds, no checkout periods, and no limit to the number of magazines an individual can download. New issues are released simultaneously with the print edition of the magazine.
Magazines can be read on a PC (windows-based) computer and also a MAC computer. They can also be read on Android tablets and phones (via Google Play), iPhone and iPAD (via iTunes Store) and Windows Tablet (Windows 8 or RT via the Windows Store), or a Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD.
Universal Class offers over 500 online non-college credit continuing education courses. Topics cover a wide range from hobbies (arts and crafts, dog training, photography) to job skills (writing improvement, medical billing, computer programming, domestic violence counseling) to education and test preparation (writing for children, general science, algebra, homeschooling strategies) - and much, much more.
Dare County Library customers will need their library card number and a valid email address to create a Universal Class account. Individuals can enroll in up to 5 courses, and have 6 months to complete a course. Each course has a real instructor that can be communicated with via email. People can access their courses 24/7 via the internet and attend class and do assignments on their own schedule. These are non-credit courses provided for personal enrichment and are not intended as a substitute for any state licensing or educational requirement.
Dare County Library Foundation Board Chair Karen Bachman, remarked. The Dare County Library Foundation is pleased to be able to continue to support the successful 3M Cloud Library eBook program that begun last year, as well as two new offerings that promote the Dare County Library's mission to educate, and enlighten.
Bachman concluded. It is only through the generosity of community members who value the programs and services of the library and show their support by contributing to the Dare County Library Foundation, that the library is able to continue to innovate while public funding is decreasing.
For more information about the Dare County library's new digital resources, please visit the librarys website at www.darenc.com/library/
SUCCESS STORIES
"Unfortunately hurricanes are a way of life on the Outer Banks. The library has energetically responded in recovery efforts by providing information on topics such as mold mitigation, storm clean up and coping with stress. We also provide up-to-date information to the public for those needing assistance as well as those wanting to assist. After Hurricane Irene, we became aware of the North Carolina Hurricane Appliance Replacement Program several days before it was publicly announced, and staff promoted it heavily. We know of several library customers who were able to qualify for the program before funds ran out, and who tell us they would not have otherwise known about the program. After a storm we suspend copying and fax fees for anyone/anything related to a storm, such as insurance, construction FEMA, etcetera."
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