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RC Library keeps up with technology to lure younger generations |
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Friday, 17 September 2010 14:50 |
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The Rapid City Public Library is reaching out to younger generations by pumping up their online resources. If you can do it at home, you can also do it at the library now. And maybe you'll come across a book worth checking out. Black Hills FOX reporter Megan Palera has the story.
It's a place that billions of Americans go to spend time with their favorite authors. And although technology continues to change the way people read the Rapid City Public Library is ready for the challenge. Terri Davis says, "If you offer it, they will come. And we continue to offer materials that people want, whether that's in print or online." Libraries across the country are losing interested readers every day. But these dust collectors are being flipped more than ever before. Circulation at Rapid's public libraries is up 22 percent. And technology is to thank. Terri Davis says, "Our use of online resources is growing and expanding, but we're still seeing more and more people coming into the library." Have a question? You can now chat online with a librarian. Or simply text it to a librarian for a quick response back. The newest service now offered, and one in great demand, is ebooks. Terri Davis says, "The service we use is the same service we have for audio downloads so a lot of people are already familiar with it and its quite user friendly." The Rapid City library has also become a hot spot for online browsers. Wireless internet usage has exploded by 200 percent.It's just one of the 12.000 public libraries nationwide that offer free WiFi - more than Starbucks and Borders combined. In Rapid City, Megan Palera. Black Hills FOX News. |
