The Cleveland Public Library was first among an international network of public libraries to allow patrons to borrow ebooks in Mobipocket format. With the free Mobipocket Reader software, people can download and read titles on virtually all handhelds; Motorola, Samsung, and Nokia Smartphones; and personal computers.
OverDrive, Inc., a leading vendor of eBook solutions for libraries, supplied the technology for the service.
"It's surprising how clear and readable eBooks appear on the color screen of my Motorola cell phone," said Cleveland Public Librarian Cynthia Orr. "With my AT&T Wireless account and Motorola smart phone, I can browse the library website, download eBook titles to the phone and begin to read. Mobipocket software is easy to use and with the phone's built-in media card, I can transfer ebooks to my PDA or PC to finish reading a title."
This is not the first time libraries have loaned out ebooks. These have been available in Adobe Acrobat and Palm Reader formats for some time. However, there are versions of the Mobipocket Reader available for more types of handhelds and smart phones than the other two. Mobipocket-formatted ebooks can be read on six different mobile platforms -- Palm OS, Pocket PC, Symbian OS, Microsoft Smartphone, Franklin eBookMan, and Windows.
Library ebooks are available from dozens of leading publishers including HarperCollins Perfectbound, McGraw-Hill, Time Warner, RosettaBooks, eReads, and Fictionwise.
The Cleveland Public Library was only the first to begin offering this service. It was quickly followed by Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH); Essex County Library (UK), and dozens of others that now offer titles in Mobipocket format.
More information about the Mobipocket Reader is available on the Mobipocket web site.
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