News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Art Circle Public Library patrons are some of the biggest users of the state’s library downloading system.
The Regional eBook and Audiobook Download System, or R.E.A.D.S., is a way for users to electronically check out digital copies of library inventory. Library Deputy Director Kristen Tabor said that the library saw some 116,587 downloads last year.
“We do have a lot of people that both like the accessibility,” Tabor said. “A lot of people just like the convenience. They like having their books delivered to their device without them really having to do much else. They just tell it what they want, and then there they are and off they go. They don’t have to remember to return things.”
Tabor said that there are never late fees. She said that the books automatically return themselves without users having to go into the library.
There were a total of 13 libraries statewide that reported at least 100,000 downloads last year, Putnam County was among them at 109,376. Tabor said that their library has been the top R.E.A.D.S. user in the Upper Cumberland every month for the last five years except for last November, when Putnam claimed the spot.
Tabor said that for those in the community who have yet to start utilizing the service, the easiest way to start would be to get a library card.
“You can, at the moment, this was started as a pandemic measure last year, you can register for a R.E.A.D.S. account with just your cellphone,” Tabor said. “But that account will expire after a year and at point you cannot renew it you do have to come to your local library and get a library card. The other easiest to do is to get the app.”
Tabor said that the app is called Libby and can be found in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
