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NEWS BRIEFS
Digital bookmobile visits Cabell County Public Library
HUNTINGTON -- It may have caused a few people some navigable headaches, but the 74-foot tractor trailer blocking 9th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues brought a powerful message to the Huntington community on Saturday morning and afternoon.
The large trailer is the world's only digital bookmobile, bringing education and enlightenment about the rise in downloadable audio books, according to Jamie Kelly, the marketing and events associate for OverDrive. Kelly said the bookmobile travels around the United States and Canada helping people understand the new technology and giving them a lesson on what their local library has to offer.
The presence of the digital bookmobile coincided with the Friends of the Library Day at the Cabell County Public Library.
"We live in a technical community, and this new service is available 24-7 at your fingertips," Kelly said.
Whether it's elementary children downloading a Dr. Seuss book onto their iPods or someone like Kelly's grandfather -- blind and unable to read a regular book -- the bookmobile caters to everyone.
Cabell County Library director Judy Rule said there are about 500 downloadable books available at http://cabell.lib.wv.us, and the collection is growing all the time.
"We've had it nine months, and downloadable books have been growing each month," Rule said. "Some people have told me that (the downloadable option) makes all the difference."
Circulation clerk April Morrison said library members of all ages have been taking advantage of the online option, including college students, professionals who travel a lot, and even nursery school teachers, downloading for their programs.
The library also had storytellers from the Eastern Kentucky Storyteller Guild reading to patrons as part of the event on Saturday.
