The libraries I have used over the years would allow people out of residence to check out books. Just more paperwork and maybe having to pay a fee. I am pretty sure that years ago I check out a book from UNC without a problem.
Our library system has a book mobile but there has been talk of shelving, pun intended, the book bus because of its age and expense to run. It could still be an option in your area especially if the bus was just someone running to the library once a week to pick up and drop off books.
Bear with me as I bring up eReaders again. :laughing:
As a hard core book reader and hoarder, though not as bad as the previous photos,
, I really want hard back books. I have thousands of paper backs but they are melting away over time and I have no shelf space for them anymore. I like to read books, I reread them and often go back and look up passages I have read....
I want my books.
But an eReader would solve my space issues and SEARCH issues withing the books. I am about to buy an eReader, partially to save money on magazines and newspapers but to reread the books I have boxed up. I really want to reread Starship Troopers again for some reason. :laughing:
When eReaders first came out I did not like the idea. However I installed several eRead applications on my smart phone and I have read a couple of books on the device. One of the concerns I had with eReaders was the page size and this has not been a problem. I stood around as a chaperon at a dance. Before I left the house I downloaded a free history book and I was able to read quite a bit at the dance. The phone is always with me so I always have something to read.
Another website I hang out on is run by a guy who has some very serious eye problems that has required surgery. He had to lay flat on his stomach for weeks after the eye surgery. The Kindle was a huge blessing for him since he could access quite a bit of reading content and HE COULD ENLARGE the font to help him read even with his bad eyesight.
When I heard how and why he used a Kindle, it made me see them in a new light. :laughing:
For an older population with eyesight and mobility issues an eReader could really help. The people will have to get used to the idea of an eReader and maybe shown how to use the device but it can really help them.
It very likely would be MUCH cheaper to build up a system of eReader loaners than build a physical library. If there was space in a county building, with WiFi access, the people could get to the local building, and download new content if they do not have WiFi at home. This would be very cheap to do. The two lowest price Kindles are under $101. For the price of a couple of hard back books a person could easily pay for a Kindle and then access the thousands of free books that are available.
Later,
Dan
