App for iPhone: Local Books By Concept House

This free app is similar to UrbanSpoon for restaurants, LocalBooks lets users know about libraries, bookstores, and bookish events near their location.

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later.

Check Out the Encore SWAN Catalog

Encore is an innovative way to find materials in the library collections. It functions like a search engine, so you do not need to search by title, author or subject.

Type what you are looking for in the search box and click GO! Encore will return a list of related items. If you do not see what you are looking for, use the "Refine by" options to narrow down what you are looking for by format, subject, or library location.

http://swanencore.mls.lib.il.us/iii/encore/home?lang=eng

eBook growth in public libraries powered by OverDrive results in record checkouts and new Users

I read an interesting article about Overdrive which our library circulates.

OverDrive released 3rd quarter 2011 results showing continued circulation growth at libraries and schools worldwide. Through September 30, the 15,000 libraries in the OverDrive network nearly triple the number of eBook checkouts versus all of 2010, as well as more than 2 million new users and expansion in mobile device use.

Contributing to this growth are a number of factors, including upgrades in the OverDrive platform, compatibility across major desktop and mobile devices including Kindle, and direct mobile access to devices including smartphones, tablets and Sony Reader.

Circulation statistics through September 30, 2011 at OverDrive's 15,000 libraries and schools worldwide:

• eBook checkouts already up 200% versus all of 2010 to more than 12 million and on pace to exceed 16 million
• Nearly 2 million new users signed up with libraries in the OverDrive network (on pace to nearly double in 2011 vs. 2010)
• Readers browsing on their smartphones and tablets grew significantly, as mobile checkouts increased to 21 percent of overall checkouts
• Installs of the free OverDrive Media Console application for eBook and audiobook reading and listening have passed 9 million, including more than 2 million on smartphones and tablets such as iPhone, iPad and Android

Check out OverDrive Media on Demand: http://www.mediaondemand.org/1CA9FAF7-88CD-4018-A14B-7AEBE325BAE3/10/678/en/Default.htm