Wanganui District Library members can now access free-to-download ebooks with the click of a mouse - or the tap of a finger - from the comfort of their own home.
The library joined the Lower North Island Consortium ePukapuka in July last year. By joining, they were able to affordto offer downloadable ebooks and audiobooks.
The consortium launched in November last year and since then the collection of downloadable ebooks has grown to 942 ebooks and audiobooks, with a further 23,000 titles that have expired copyright and are available to be downloaded and kept.
Wanganui District Council deputy culture and community manager Pete Gray said the ebooks were free to download, but there were not unlimited copies of each book, since each copy had to be purchased.
The library used the OverDrive Media Console to open the books, compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh, as well as available as a download for smartphones and ebook devices, or tablets.
Mr Gray said the shorter loan time was implemented to due to demand when ePukapuka launched, to reduce waiting times.
However, as the digital collection grew, the greater choice meant there would be other items to check out, while a request or "hold" was placed on books already on loan to someone else.
