Library Wowing Patrons

With Technology

By Nancy K. Crevier

“Wow!” is the response that the C.H. Booth Library is hoping for and “Wow!”  is the response they are getting so far to two new means of accessing the most up-to date library information and new technology, “Wowbrary,” introduced just last month, and “Playaway,” which was made available Friday, July 18.

Wowbrary is accessed through the library’s website, chboothlibrary.org, and provides a weekly update of new items available for review, borrowing, or even purchase. By registering at Wowbrary, patrons can receive e-mail or RSS alerts on the thousands of new books, CDs, or DVDs that go into circulation at Booth Library every year. The weekly notification allows those who love being on top of things instant access to reviewing a book or DVD via an Amazon link, the option to reserve an item, or for those too impatient to go on a waiting list, a simple way to buy the product online without going to another website.

“We’re very excited about Wowbrary,” said librarian Kim Weber, “and we are really trying to promote it to our patrons. The link is found right on the front page of the library website, and the people signing up so far seem to be happy to be signed up.”

Technology librarian Brenda McKinley said that one of the great things about Wowbrary is that not only can people reserve the latest books, but by purchasing an item through the Wowbrary site, six percent of the purchase price goes back to C.H. Booth Library. “This is not only for the things listed on our library page,” said Ms McKinley, “which is what makes it doubly terrific. Any Amazon purchase made through the library page link is credited to our library.”

When the library processes new items and they become a part of the C.H. Booth Library catalog, Wowbrary, part of the bibliomation system, pulls that information from the database, instantly updating any new items that it finds and making that information available to Wowbrary.

Signup is a simple process. The user selects the “Receive e-mail or RSS feed of weekly Wowbrary page” link on the front page, enters the zip code for Newtown or Sandy Hook, selects the Booth library, enters an e-mail address, and submits the information. It is necessary to have a C.H. Booth Library card to sign up for Wowbrary.

“If a book is on the shelf when we get a Wowbrary request,” said Ms Weber, “we pull it, set it aside, a give the person a call.” If no copies of an item are available when a request is received, she explained, the patron is put on the waiting list and notified when it does become available. Copy and holding information at the Wowbrary site lets the patron know the status of an item.

“I think people who love technology and love having the most up-to-date information will love Wowbrary,” Ms Weber said. “If you come to the library, you might not see a book or DVD on the shelf because all of the copies are checked out and not know that we have all these new titles. Wowbrary is customized to our library, so these books people see on the site are books they really can get here,” she added. As of July 25, 41 library users have signed up for Wowbrary and the librarians would not be surprised to see that number rapidly multiply as more residents become aware of the service.

Playaway is the other new addition to technology at C.H. Booth Library. An all-in-one, lightweight unit that plays prerecorded audio books, Playaway has the advantage over audio books or other devices in that it is all self-contained, said Ms McKinley.

“It’s great for people who don’t have an MP3 player, for instance,” she said. “We’ve always been very successful with the downloadable books, but this is another option for those who use our library.”

Personal earbuds or headphones plug right into the tiny player that can be checked out for a three-week period at a time. For those who do not have headphones, the library is selling earbuds for $1 a pair. The fee is steep, though, if Playaway stays away too long. Fines are $1 a day for an overdue Playaway.

Presently, the library has 20 titles by popular authors such as Jodi Picoult, Lilian Braun, and John Grogan and expects to receive 30 more Playaway titles within the next two weeks. All of the selections are adult literature.

“We just put the rack up on Friday, and they flew out of here over the weekend,” said Ms Weber, indicating the revolving kiosk with just five titles left to borrow late last week. “People seem pretty happy about this service.”