New Library Tablet Readers Gone In An Hour

officials are still stunned at the popularity of their new tablet readers following last week's debut where the now four devices owned by the library were checked out within an hour of being available.

“It's been really positive, we figured it would be first come first serve, but we didn't expect to have people lined up for them,” said Information Services director Kristina Leedburg.

The tablets, two Nooks and two Kindles, are being loaned for periods of three week intervals. This puts them at the same borrowing time frame as books, although unlike books, patrons from other towns in the Merrimack Valley Library Collaborative currently cannot take them out unless they join the Friends of the J.V Fletcher Library organization.

Leedburg notes that there was no planned waiting list before opening day for the devices last week, but now it is continuing to grow with prospective borrowers such as Westford resident Marie Greene.

Greene saw that the readers were coming soon on the library website and wanted to see if she could try them for herself.

“Before I purchase one, I want to see if I like reading books this way,” said Greene on the tablets. “The three weeks (for borrowing) were surprising given so much interest, but I guess that's normal for books. I assume in a few days, the waiting list will be even longer.”

Regardless of how her opinion develops after trying out the readers, Greene believes that they will never fully replace books, a belief that Leedburg, who owns a Nook herself, also shares.

“We're not looking to replace books, but add a new supplementary source of information like audio or DVDs,” said Leedburg. “I enjoy reading things on a tablet, but if I can read something on paper, I do. I only see the tablet as a sort of compliment to what I read from books.”

There is no word yet whether the Friends of the Library, who purchased the devices, will purchase more devices in the future. Currently each of the devices is pre-programmed with a list of best-selling books available in paper versions at the library.

More information on checking out the devices is available on the library's website.