EAST LAKE — Phyllis Remolader, an avid reader, was curious about the Amazon Kindle digital book reader, but with its $279 cost, she was unwilling to risk buying it before trying it.
So when the East Lake Community Library purchased five of the e-readers to lend to patrons, she was one of the first in line.
"I fell in love with it immediately," she said.
Through a program that started Oct. 1, any adult member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative who is willing to drive to the library and sign a strict agreement can try one of the devices for 14 days. The Palm Harbor Public Library plans a similar program starting at the end of November.
"We like to stay abreast of new technology," said Patricia Perez, the East Lake Community Library's director, "and this is very cutting edge."
The devices offered through the library come with 50 best-selling novels and other popular titles preloaded. Patrons also can go to Amazon's Web site and download more for $9.99 each on their own credit cards.
The library also is able to download requested titles that may be unavailable in a hard copy in just a few seconds while the library patron waits.
Remolader, 59, who is chairwoman of the library's advisory board, also tutors at the library.
One day, a particular book that was required for a student was unavailable in print. "They were able to instantly download it for us," she said. "It was great."
While the device works like a computer, it looks and feels very much like a book, but with some additional perks. The text size can be changed for those who need a larger font, and when the device is closed and then reopened, it remembers where the reader left off. The standard Kindle can hold up to 1,500 titles.
Although the Kindle is the most popular digital book reader on the market right now, competitors are quickly coming out with their own. Most recently, Barnes & Noble introduced the Nook, which is similar to the Kindle but taps into Barnes & Noble's more than 1 million titles, compared with Amazon's 350,000.
Remolader, who lives in East Lake, likes the way she can scroll over a word she may not understand and see the definition. One book she recently read had a lot of British slang words in it.
"I was able to see what they meant," she said.
Perez said that while the program has started quietly, she doesn't think it will take long for the Kindles to be in big demand. The library will soon be ordering five more.
"I think e-reading is the future," she said.
EAST LAKE — Phyllis Remolader, an avid reader, was curious about the Amazon Kindle digital book reader, but with its $279 cost, she was unwilling to risk buying it before trying it.
So when the East Lake Community Library purchased five of the e-readers to lend to patrons, she was one of the first in line.
"I fell in love with it immediately," she said.
Through a program that started Oct. 1, any adult member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative who is willing to drive to the library and sign a strict agreement can try one of the devices for 14 days. The Palm Harbor Public Library plans a similar program starting at the end of November.
"We like to stay abreast of new technology," said Patricia Perez, the East Lake Community Library's director, "and this is very cutting edge."
The devices offered through the library come with 50 best-selling novels and other popular titles preloaded. Patrons also can go to Amazon's Web site and download more for $9.99 each on their own credit cards.
The library also is able to download requested titles that may be unavailable in a hard copy in just a few seconds while the library patron waits.
Remolader, 59, who is chairwoman of the library's advisory board, also tutors at the library.
One day, a particular book that was required for a student was unavailable in print. "They were able to instantly download it for us," she said. "It was great."
While the device works like a computer, it looks and feels very much like a book, but with some additional perks. The text size can be changed for those who need a larger font, and when the device is closed and then reopened, it remembers where the reader left off. The standard Kindle can hold up to 1,500 titles.
Although the Kindle is the most popular digital book reader on the market right now, competitors are quickly coming out with their own. Most recently, Barnes & Noble introduced the Nook , which is similar to the Kindle but taps into Barnes & Noble's more than 1 million titles, compared with Amazon's 350,000.
Remolader, who lives in East Lake, likes the way she can scroll over a word she may not understand and see the definition. One book she recently read had a lot of British slang words in it.
"I was able to see what they meant," she said.
Perez said that while the program has started quietly, she doesn't think it will take long for the Kindles to be in big demand. The library will soon be ordering five more.
"I think e-reading is the future," she said.
Fact Facts
Borrowing a Kindle
Any adult member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative who is willing to drive to the East Lake Community Library and sign a strict agreement can try one of the devices for 14 days.
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