Penguin Group eBooks

If you remember, back in November of 2011, Penguin Publishing stopped licensing their eBooks to libraries via OverDrive. Well...

GOOD NEWS!  Penguin Publishing has rejoined the list of leading publishers allowing library lending of eBooks via OverDrive, our Digital Library vendor.  More than 17,000 Penguin eBooks are available for libraries such as East Central Regional Library to license for our Digital Library.

 

Penguin Group Publishing titles will follow the one copy/one user lending model, and libraries will be able to circulate each copy they license for 12 months (1 year).  Popular new releases will be priced at $18.99 per copy.  Backlist favorites will range from $5.99 -$9.99 per copy.   After 12 months, ECRL will have to purchase an additional license in order to retain the title in our eBook collection. 

eBooks published by Penguin Group include many favorite authors such as:

• Nora Roberts
• Tom Clancy
• Patricia Cornwell
• Charlaine Harris
• Lee Child
• Iris Johansen
• Christine Feehan
• Kathy Reichs
• Clive Cussler
• W. E. B. Griffin
• Harlan Coben
• AND MANY MORE!

Also, remember that you can always suggest titles you wish to see added to ECRL's Digital Library via the Recommend to Library feature.

Library lending of eBooks is an ever-changing world, and the tide is turning in our favor.  When ECRL launched eBooks in November 2011, 5 of the 7 biggest publishers did NOT allow library lending of eBooks.  Today, 5 of the 7 biggest publishers DO allow library lending of eBooks in some manner.  Keep track of which major publishers allow library lending of eBooks at the blog post “Why can’t I get this eBook from ECRL?” 

Sarah Hawkins, Branch Librarian, Chisago Lakes Area Library

ECRL Kids Create Glass Art Contest Winners

 

Example of  Kids Create Glass contest
courtesy of glassblower, Anthony
Michaud-Scorza

This past summer ECRL ran a Kids Design Art contest.  Children ages 4-10 were invited to enter a special contest to have their drawing turned into a glass sculpture by local glassblower, Anthony Michaud-Scorza.  Over 150 entries from our 14 branch libraries were turned in.  One drawing from each branch was chosen and will have their drawing turned into a glass sculpture this fall.  The following children were chosen as winners:  Aitkin – Savannah Watson; Cambridge – Emily Ruyman; Chisago Lakes – Sydney Barnick; Hinckley – Madelyn Churchill; McGregor – Emma Arnold; Milaca – Tucker Anderson; Mille Lacs Lake – Priscilla Elizabeth Bonilla; Mora – Mattea Van Hale; North Branch – Caleb Thyng; Pine City – Billy Brown – Princeton – Griffin Sager; Rush City- Hunter Fuller; Sandstone – Nevaeh Sedillo; and Wyoming – Kirsten Swanson.  The winners ranged from ages 5-10. 

The winners will get their picture taken with their individual glass sculpture and be invited to the glassblower’s studio to observe the art of glassblowing.  A brochure including all of the drawings and the glass designs will also be produced.  The 14 sculptures will also travel to each of the 14 ECRL branches for a display and Mr. Michaud-Scorza will give a presentation on glassblowing.  The event is planned for February 2014.  The event is funded with Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. 

Vickie Sorn, ECRL Youth & Community Services Librarian

Read a Banned Book

Every September the American Library Association focuses on the books that have been challenged and banned in either a school or public library.  Since 1990, the American Library’s Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) has recorded more than 10,000 book challenges.  A challenge is a formal, written complaint requesting a book be removed from the shelf.  The OIF estimates that less than ¼ of challenges are even reported and recorded.

It is thanks to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents and students that most challenges are unsuccessful and reading materials such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the Harry Potter series, the Captain Underpants series, To Kill a Mockingbird, the Great Gatsby and more remain available on the shelf at your local public library.  A challenge is not simply an expression of a point of view, but an attempt to remove the materials from public use by anyone.  Censorship denies our freedom as individuals to choose and think for ourselves. 

Since its inception in 1982, we stop each September to focus on Banned Books as a reminder to us that while not every book is intended for every reader, each of us has the right to decide for ourselves or our children what to read, listen to or view. 

Each branch of East Central Regional Library has put up a display of many of the banned books from the 21^st century.  The displays will be in the libraries thru October 4.  Celebrate the freedom to read what you so choose at your local East Central Regional Library branch by stopping by and checking out just how many of those “banned” books you’ve probably read. 

Vickie Sorn, ECRL Youth & Community Services Librarian