For years, the Jericho Public Library has prided itself on riding the cutting-edge of technology. And now the library begins a new push to invite patrons to learn more about its modern amenities.
In order to lend assistance to Jericho residents who might not be up on the latest developments happening in their local library, library director Barbara Kessler noted that, on Sept. 27, between noon and 5 p.m., they’re putting a new-fangled spin on an old classic—out of the memories of many adults will resurface the famous bookmobile, but now with a fresh, digital coat of paint.
“We are just trying to familiarize people with what we have. Some people are very comfortable with technology, but we want the other patrons to become familiar with it as well,” she said. “For example, with e-books, we want people to understand that they’re the same as the print books we offer, but in a different format. Some people need help to become familiar with that and that is why we have the digital bookmobile coming to help them with the concept.”
Carlos Munozospina, the library’s technology and computer specialist, said that the digital bookmobile will be stationed in their parking lot to help locals hone their e-book skills in a friendly, low-pressure environment.
“We will be offering training on how to use mobile devices. They will have tablets and smartphones on the truck and they will demonstrate for people how to download books from the library’s collection,” he said. “Of course, people can bring their own devices as well. That same day, we will have a table in the lobby where people will show patrons how to download e-books using our app.”
The app, engineered specifically for the Jericho Public Library, is a free program for use on all tablet computers and smartphones and puts all of the digital offerings of the library at patrons’ fingertips, Munozospina noted.
“In our app, you have access to all our online services 24/7, and you can use the app to download e-books and use many other services,” he said. “You can create your own digital library card with this app, so you’ll always have it on your phone. A lot of people say that they forget their library card, but people usually don’t forget their phones these days, so you’ll always have the digital library card on you and you can use it at any of our automated check-out kiosks to take out books and movies.”
Kessler noted that the Jericho is unique among Nassau County libraries in that instead of utilizing the county’s own digital library services, they have instead forged a deal with an independent service known as Overdrive for their e-books. This deal, she said, ensures that Jericho residents never have to wait in line with all of the other members of Nassau’s 53 libraries to download the book of their choice.
“We have our own server. We’re not part of the Nassau Digital Doorway. That didn’t work for us, so we deal directly with and buy our e-books from Overdrive,” she said. “We have our own collection so our patrons don’t have to wait until the title is available in order to download it. We’re not competing with a queue made up of 53 libraries.”
Yet another tech wonder that has reared its head at the Jericho Library recently is the latest creative craze sweeping the nation—the 3D printer. This tool enables users to create solid objects from three-dimensional computer files by taking a spool of plastic filament that is fed into and melted by the printer. The plastic is then re-formed via a track-mounted “arm” into practically any shape imaginable, according to Munozospina.
“We implemented the 3D printing in January of this year and it’s heavily used by our patrons,” he said. “People can make reservations online to use it. A lot of people use it to create jewelry, small statues, models and other things—you’re only limited by your imagination.”
Other additions to the library’s technological repertoire include the Roku Stick, a device that allows patrons to stream movies to their Internet-enabled televisions from an online cloud service, new computers and iPads, the library’s child, tween and teen sections, and much more.
Technology in the library has evolved more in just the last few years than in the last few decades. Kessler said that she takes great pride in the fact that the Jericho Library has not only been keeping up with the times, but has actually been spearheading many of the changes that have catapulted libraries into the 21st century.
“We’re not just keeping up, but we’re at the forefront,” she said. “We’re not chasing the bus, the bus is chasing us.”
