County library prepares for the future with 1.9 million digital checkouts | Herald Community Newspaper

I read a book. Please listen to the book. However, don’t feel like you have to physically pick up the book.

Although the service has been around for more than a decade, the Nassau Library System’s Digital Doorway e-book consortium continues to grow, offering more than 40,000 titles and having been checked out a record 1.9 million times last year. I did.

This milestone marks the continued growth of library lending of e-books, audiobooks, and digital media as part of meeting the different needs of different members of the community.

The Digital Doorway consortium of library systems is a network of more than 50 public libraries in Nassau County. This gives patrons the opportunity to download books onto their electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet devices, and even listen to them if they don’t have the opportunity to sit down and read.

“We are excited about Nassau Digital Doorway’s continued success and the role it has played in ensuring our patrons have access to a wide range of reading materials for both entertainment and education purposes.” said Grace Palmisano, director of resources and resources. Discovery manager.

For several years, Digital Doorway Libraries have been offering readers access to e-books and audiobooks through the library browsing app Libby. Our extensive collection is available to readers of all ages and interests, and our usage grows every year.

A ray of hope from the coronavirus pandemic The Nassau Library System began experiencing rapid growth in digital doorways when people were unable to come to libraries due to lockdowns.

“This has been a program that has grown gradually over the years, but it has taken off and continues to be very successful because there is a huge collection of titles available. It’s much larger than what can be housed in a single physical building,” Palmisano said. He said. “You can access it any time. Even at 2 a.m., you can download the item when the library itself is closed.”

Libby, the friendly face that comes with the smartphone app, is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. She offers books such as Kate Quinn’s “The Rose Code” and Kate Moore’s “The Radium Girls,” as well as magazines such as Us Weekly, The New Yorker, and Good Housekeeping.

For younger readers, titles like Sesame Street’s “Monster on the Bus” are just a click away, while older kids may like Mark Jean’s “Puddle Jumper.”

Some of the more popular audiobooks available include The Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Mark Dawidziak and The Queen: Her Life by Andrew Morton .

Those who can’t find Digital Doorway on their library website or mobile phone can also visit Nassau.Overdrive.com.

“The world is so digital these days,” Palmisano said. “There’s always a place for physical items, but it’s so convenient to have a book on your phone in your pocket whenever you’re out and about.”