The Chelmsford Library is participating in a pilot project to help increase the number of ebooks Massachusetts residents can access through their library. This initiative is funded by the state and part of the FY15 MBLC Legislative Agenda

The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) created this pilot project to explore the potential of purchasing ebooks from a variety of sources, and make them all available in one place. The pilot started with two vendors (Baker & Taylor and Bibliolabs), and will soon add a third, Ebook Library (EBL). This collections increases the number of ebooks available to Chelmsford residents by thousands of titles.

To Get Started
Patrons have the option of using the new state ebook catalog, which searches everything available from the participating vendors. Or, you can go to each vendor’s individual catalog directly (Baker & Taylor or Bibliolabs – EBL coming soon!). Brochures – and friendly staff – are available at the library service desks to help answer questions, too.

What It Offers
The project involves different vendors, because they each offer different types of ebooks and other electronic content, suitable for different audiences:

• Baker & Taylor: their AXIS360 product includes popular fiction and non-fiction ebooks (similar to Overdrive). They also offer childrens picture books, and their special Blio reader software which displays pictures books exactly as if you were holding the book itself – the software will even highlight and read the words aloud!
• Bibliolabs: their Biblioboard search interface is an easy-to-use tool for finding historical books, photographs, recordings, and other primary resources that are in the public domain, which can be read online or downloaded to your device
• EBL: When EBL joins the project, their classroom-oriented content will be great for students working on projects. This content is all simultaneous use too, which means there is no limit to how many people can access it at the same time

You can also visit https://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/econtent/ to see all of the download/streaming resources the library offers.

Tell Us What You Think
This initial pilot phase of the project includes 50 libraries across Massachusetts (including Chelmsford). And since this is the trial of something new, we’d like to hear feedback from patrons on what you think. If you have comments or questions, please contact Brian Herzog, Head of Reference, at bherzog@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x211.