Libraries offer e-books for the Kindle

EVERETT — Just before Christmas, the Everett Public Library began offering patrons free access to electronic books that can be read on portable readers such as the Barnes & Noble Nook, the Sony Reader or Apple’s iPad.

At the time, Amazon’s popular Kindle didn’t accommodate e-books offered by public libraries.

That just changed.

People who want to check out e-books from the Everett Public Library or branches of the Sno-Isle libraries in Snohomish County can now do so for free.

Patrons who don’t own a portable reader can download a free application for smartphones.

“Kindle owners have been waiting for this for a long time,” says librarian Jim McCluskey, who places orders for the Sno-Isle’s media collections. “It will be interesting to watch the growth in circulation as our customers find out that we have Kindle books.”

The option already is proving popular; Sno-Isle libraries report that the number of e-books downloaded in their system jumped by 80 percent Wednesday, the day the service started.

In Everett, patrons can check out e-books through the library’s website for up to 21 days.

“The interface is really nice,” said Brad Allen, an e-reader user and the branch manager of the Evergreen Branch in Everett. “I think Kindle users will like it.”

Like print books, there might be only one copy of some titles, and patrons may have to wait for popular selections.

The Everett Public Library has a limited selection of e-books but that’s expected to grow.

“Although demand here in Everett is a bit less intense than in Seattle and King County, we get inquiries regularly from patrons who are considering the purchase of an e-reading device,” Allen said. “We’re excited to finally be able to make this valuable library service available to Kindle users.”

Debra Smith: 425-339-3197; dsmith@heraldnet.com.

Check out e-books

Kindle users can browse the Everett Public Library or the Sno-Isle libraries collection of e-books at www.epls.org or www.sno-isle.org.