Digital World Opens New Horizons

By Travis Brink, Rapid City Public Library

If you’re a resident of Rapid City, you know the library is centrally located near downtown, at 610 Quincy Street. It’s a beautiful building to visit, with friendly staff, a coffee shop and varied and interesting programs to attend…and have you seen the birds upstairs? But we know it’s not always convenient to put on a pair of shoes and leave the house, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating.

Fortunately, the Rapid City Public Library is as close as your home computer, and is as easy to find as typing www.rapidcitylibrary.org. If you’ve only used your library card to check out books, you’re only using a fraction of its potential. To see how you can fully experience the power of the card, check out the library’s website; it is a premier source for reliable online information and entertainment.

One of the online services includes a digital library full of downloadable audiobooks provided through OverDrive, the leading provider of downloadable media. This new service is available through your computer with a high-speed internet connection; using your library card, you too can be part of the revolutionary direction the library is taking in bringing innovative library services to the public. 

From the Rapid City Public Library’s website, click on the “Downloadable Audiobooks” link on the right side of the page.  From there, you can browse through the hundreds of audiobook titles we offer (with more being added each month), including many best-sellers and non-fiction titles.  If you don’t see a title you’re looking for, use our website’s “Request Material” form and we’ll try to get it for you.

To download any of the titles, follow the easy instructions to install the free OverDrive software on your computer; it’s a simple process that will have you on your way to listening pleasure in no time!  Once the software is installed, use it to download and enjoy audiobooks on most Windows computers, burn the books to a CD, or download them to your MP3 player.

At this point, I should mention that only MP3 players that support Windows Media files can play the audiobook files.  In other words, iPod users will have to wait until an agreement can be reached between Apple and Microsoft. In the meantime, MP3 players are easy to use and relatively inexpensive, especially now in the holiday buying season.  And keep in mind that you can also listen to the audiobooks straight from your computer.

So what does this mean about the future of the library’s audiobook collection?  Along with our popular Book on CD collection, we will continue to add more online titles. Whether you like to read the print book, play the CDs in your car, or prefer even more portable literature through an MP3 player, you can find your interests covered at the library.

If you’ve already found materials you want at the library and have placed them on hold, the new Mailed Hold Service allows you the option of having those items sent directly to your home. To sign up for this service, all you need to do is call 394-6139, stop by the front desk, or e-mail us at rcplcirc@rcplib.org to register. If you prefer to stop by rather than wait for the mail, you can pick up your holds through our drive-up windows.

Another service the library already provides is a variety of useful online databases. Just look for the “Resources” link on our homepage and you’ll enter a rich world of reliable information. From the comfort of home, you can access a huge amount of information--from magazine articles and investment information, to car repair or genealogy. Students in all grade levels should try out our Homework Help section, where they can take practice tests, interact with live tutors, or access hundreds of magazine articles.

While you’re checking out the library website, be sure to take a look at our digital library section. The library staff have dubbed this section “Library 2.0” to reflect the expanded online services offered. There you’ll find our community collaborative project about the 1972 Rapid City Flood, see which online links library staff recommend through del.icio.us, or even see our MySpace page. You can also read our online newsletter, see our calendar of events, conduct real-time online conversations with library staff, and so much more.

Whether online or in person, the Rapid City Public Library has resources for you to use and explore.