Krystyna Stalmach from the Lambton County Library presented on how they have created an ereader lending program at their library. Presented at Keeping Up With Library Technology (KULT) November 1, 2013 at Hamilton Public Library.

1. Our project’s goals were to ensure equitable access to
download technology and develop a program to
provide training to both our staff and the public.

2. Inception of the Program & Funding
 Our project was proposed to the County Committee in
October 2011.
 We used funding provided through a Ministry of
Culture grant.
 Project cost - $48,000

3. eProject Team
We hired a part time e-library assistant who worked together with the other
members of the eReading Team to develop and deliver training to front line
staff, library patrons and community groups.

4. E-Ink Sony PRS
eReader
After testing, we decided to
proceed with the Sony PRS
eReader as this device does not
require any additional software
or hardware thus enabling it to
download directly from
Overdrive over a wireless
network. Patrons are able to use
the library’s own wireless
network to borrow e-books.
We purchased 60 eReaders.

5. Preparing eReaders for Circulation
 We packaged our devices in off-the-shelf plastic containers
which holds the e-reader and accessories. We affixed
barcodes and handling instructions. The MARC record was
entered into the ILS with shelfmark based on each devices’
unique serial number.
 We decided on a 14-day loan period, with no option to
renew or reserve thereby hoping to meet the demand of the
community fairly.
 We developed the Electronic Device Borrowing Agreement

7. Preparing Shipment of Sony eReaders to the Branches

8. Staff worked diligently to
develop a training package
that would cover all aspects
of the Lambton County
Library’s e-lending
program.

9. Training began on
March 14, 2012 and
by the end of April,
over 100 staff
participated. Hands
on sessions provided
instructions on
downloading ematerials from
Overdrive to
computer and directly
to the Sony PRS-T1
device.

10. Staff Training
 At the end of the training session each trainee was able to
take home the Sony eReader for two weeks.
 Each branch received the Training Manual:
- how to use eDownload Library, Adobe Digital Editions
- lending procedures for eReader
 We followed up with “tip of the week” emails often
prompted by questions or new discoveries.

11. To keep Staff refreshed after the
training, weekly tips were
emailed.

12. Marketing and Outreach
 At the end of March 2012, we started marketing our
new service as “coming soon” using many promotional
materials available through the Test Drive program as
well as our in-branch electronic LCD displays
 We ran daily radio ads and distributed posters and
bookmarks to all 26 branches

13. Preparing Shipment of Posters

14. Marketing and Outreach
 Press releases
 Articles in local papers
 Radio interviews
 Advertising via social media
 Signage inside and outside of the libraries
 Loan slips
 Bookmarks
 Posters
 LCD Displays

15. The official launch of
the
Test Drive Program
was
April 27, 2012
The project was very well
received by our staff and
patrons. Since inception of
the Test Drive lending
program we are pleased to
register over 800 circulations
of Sony eReaders and look
forward to many more.

16. Marketing through Outreach Programs
and Strategic Partnerships
 Travelling Gadget Gallery
 Tutorial Blitz
 eLibrary eVerywhere
 Summer with Sony
 Partnership with Businesses

17. Travelling Gadget Gallery
The Gallery, a combination of exhibition and gadget
clinic that travels between each of our 26 branches,
was developed around this central theme with
elements of traditional reading and print culture
juxtaposed with the new technologies.
Our gadgets:
eInk eDevices (Kobo, Sony)
tablets (iPad, Kobo Vox, Kobo Arc, BlackBerry, Nexus,
MemoPad HD, Samsung Galaxy)

19. Travelling Gadget Gallery

20. TGG – Writers in Residence
Louisa May Alcott and Charles Dickens

21. Marketing Sony eReaders and TGG
by Louisa and Charles
In the days leading up to the main event, patrons of
the branch are greeted by Charles and Louisa, our
surrogates and "spokespeople" for the value and
benefits of electronic reading. These two mannequins,
dressed in period clothes and made-up to appear as
Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott, are a way to
generate conversation and interest in the event. They
also help us to present the library's position on
electronic reading: each mannequin is presented with
an e-reader firmly in hand alongside subtly altered
quotes from each of the authors about the availability
of their works on Overdrive.

22. TGG – Subtly Altered Quote
I once wrote that “ there are books of which the backs
and covers are by far the best parts”, but I swear that
this device, which holds between its covers a whole
library of books, will not be counted among them.
- Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

23. TGG – Subtly Altered Quote
My father wrote that “ Good books, like good friends,
are few and chosen; the more select, the more
enjoyable,” and now, with this, I can find all of those
friends, from the oldest to the newest, and keep them
always close at hand.
- Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)

24. TGG - Stats
 Training sessions for patrons and community groups
were conducted via our Travelling Gadgets Gallery. To
date TGG education program has visited 26 libraries
and four community groups. About 520 people
attended this education program

25. Tutorial Blitz
 With this program, library patrons are asked to bring
their e-readers or e-tablets to different sessions to get
help setting them up to access thousands of free ebooks and e-audiobooks from Lambton County
Library's e-download library.
 To date, there have been ten tutorials at 9 library
branches and one community group with 302
participants.

26. eLibrary eVerywhere
 Places, community events:
- First Fridays (Sarnia’s major cultural event)
- Artwalk (a weekend event in Sarnia)
- Fall Fairs (five communities in Lambton County)
- Seniors Fair (Point Edward Arena)
- Lunch in a Park (Canatara Park by Tourism Sarnia- Lambton)
- Hobby Fest (waterfront)
- Lambton Shopping Mall
- MGM Retirement Home

27. eLibrary eVerywhere
 Groups:
- Computer Users Group (Sarnia)
- Lioness Club (Wyoming)
- Church groups (Forest and Sarnia)
- Wellness Club (Lambton)

28. eLibrary eVerywhere Stats
 26 different events
 48 sessions
 2846 contacts (1532 Fall Fairs, 197 First Fridays, 1117
other events)
 104 registration

29. Strategic Partnerships with Businesses
Where do people buy their eDevices?
The electronic stores!
We approached and partnered with major electronic
retailers:
 FutureShop
 Staples
 The Source
These businesses agreed to distribute our brochure “Everything you
always wanted to know about borrowing eBooks” along with purchases
to customers who might have not otherwise known about the service
we provide.

30. Strategic Partnership with Businesses
Our partners provided us with eDevices that we used
as contest prizes.
 Kobo Vox from Staples
 Sony eReader from FutureShop

31. Conclusion
This has been a very exciting project for the Lambton
County Library. The three person eReading team worked
extremely hard preparing outreach programs, training
staff, patrons and members of different community groups.
Thank You
Contact us for more information:
brian.bowley@county-lambton.on.ca
lisa.smith@county-lambton.on.ca
krystyna.stalmach@county-lambton.on.ca