Sony announced today that in recognition of Library Advocacy Day, the unveiled by them Reader Library program is going to promote the digital reading at public libraries with their ebook collections.
The Reader Library program will provide some public libraries with digital reading devices training and educational materials in order to help readers learn about the electronic Books and digital texts that are available through their own local libraries.
President of Digital Reading Business Division at Sony Electronics, Steve Haber, said that Libraries play an important role in their civic and cultural life, and that Sony believes that it is important to support public library systems as they expand their services and digital offerings, particularly eBooks. He also stated that their program is a new initiative that will provide librarians with additional resources, enabling them to inform and demonstrate to patrons how to benefit from their growing eBook collections.
The Components of the “Reader Library” Program include:
• A training program for library staff developed by Sony. This one-time web-based session covers digital reading formats, an overview of sources for digital materials, and training on Sony’s Reader digital reading devices.
• Sony’s Reader digital reading devices for use by library staff. Educational materials to provide readers background materials on digital reading devices. Sony will begin the program with a handful of libraries nationwide to tailor educational materials that reflect the content and features of each library’s digital collection.
• Bi-annual update sessions designed to keep libraries and their staff current with latest developments in digital reading content, format and devices.
This “Reading Library” program shows the commitment of Sony to work with local libraries throughout the country while they expand their electronic Books collection.