A Present from the Santa Barbara Public Library

The Santa Barbara Public Library System has stuffed the virtual shelves with thousands of eBooks that are compatible with Kindles, Nooks, iPads, iPhones and most other smart phones, tablets and reading devices. Free eBook checkouts are available through the Library’s website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included!

The nearly 5,000 eBooks in the library system’s growing collection include bestsellers, popular books for adults, teens, and children, biographies and other nonfiction, mysteries, and science fiction. Checking out a library eBook is easier than ever, now that free apps are available for iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7. Library eBooks can be checked out directly to your mobile device – or, they can be checked out using a Microsoft Windows-compatible or Macintosh computer.

The Library is adding hundreds of new titles for all ages, and additional copies of high-demand titles, just in time for the holidays. Look for these titles to show up on the Library’s virtual shelves on Christmas Eve.

These additional purchases are made possible by the Friends of the Santa Barbara Public Library and other generous donations. “The growing demand for eBooks made it clear that the library needed to commit additional funds to this format,” said Irene Macias, the Library Director. “Friends of the Library and individual donors are such an important part of our budget — without them the library would need to greatly curtail purchases such as these,” continued Macias.

All that is needed to get started is a free Santa Barbara Public Library System card. For instructions, and links to the free apps, visit the library’s website at sbplibrary.org and click on the link for “Downloadable eBooks and Audiobooks.”

For additional information, contact the Central Library Reference staff at (805)564-5604.