MASSENA — The Massena Public Library is providing its patrons a possibility to be the primary one to learn a brand new e-book earlier than it hits the cabinets.
All they should is “undertake” one of many books for $20 from a listing of 30 to 35 books that’s replace month-to-month with the newest sizzling releases.
It’s a singular means of elevating cash for the library, Director Krista Briggs mentioned.
“This 12 months we solely have $10,000 for our supplies. That doesn’t go a great distance in any respect. So this has been extraordinarily useful in offering the books that folks count on from the library,” she mentioned.
The thought got here from the Buddies of the Library.
“It obtained began by our Buddies group. What we’re mainly doing is we put out a listing of a number of the well-liked titles that we plan on getting each month, and we ask our patrons to undertake one. So, they are going to pay us $20 as a result of we purchase them at a reduced charge being a library. With that $20, we buy the e-book, and so they get to be the primary individual to learn it. Then, we put a e-book plate of their honor, nevertheless they need it achieved, after which the remainder of the group will get to take pleasure in that e-book for anyone’s $20 donation,” Briggs mentioned.
The e-book doesn’t land on the cabinets till the one who has adopted it has learn and returned it. They get two weeks to learn it, the period of time that’s allotted for brand new books, however can renew it for one more two weeks in the event that they haven’t but completed it. Then, it’s put out on the shelf for the general public to learn.
“Many libraries limit their new releases to only their patrons. We don’t, however many libraries within the north nation do. After they do this, one in every of our patrons is available in and desires that e-book. They will’t get it from one other library now for a few months. This fashion, in case you are a giant James Patterson fan, you come and also you undertake the e-book off our record for the following month and when the e-book is available in, it goes on to you. The e-book is available in, we’ll course of it, after which we name the one who adopted it and say, ‘Hey, we’ve obtained a e-book for you,” Briggs mentioned.
She mentioned the books are usually from well-liked authors.
“They are typically those which might be actually well-liked, that we all know individuals are ready for and searching ahead to. So, we put them on the market and so they see a title that they’re excited for and so they know that they’re going to learn it first after we get it in,” she mentioned.
The fundraising effort began in February, and it’s been well-received by patrons, she mentioned.
“It’s been working actually nice. We put the record of books that have been popping out in March for individuals to undertake, and we obtained nearly a complete record bought by patrons adopting them. It was implausible,” Briggs mentioned.
Not solely have they got a possibility to be the primary reader, however she mentioned it offers patrons extra of an possession within the library.
“They arrive in and donate that $20, however as an alternative of simply donating it to the library, they know precisely the place that $20 goes. They will put it in reminiscence of somebody they love or in honor of somebody they love or simply put their identify in it so that folks can see who purchased this e-book,” she mentioned.
