Visit Ballito Library from your smartphone

The digital revolution is coming to a public library near you as e-books become available for access on your laptop, smartphone, tablet or desktop.

KZN provincial library services are behind the online book loaning app, which is 100% free for all those with an active library membership.

Ballito librarian, Nerisha Mahadew said signing up is quick and easy for anyone interested in giving it a try.

“All you need is a library membership to do the quick online registration and then you can access as many books as you like without cost and no late return fees,” said Mahadew.

A total of 32 people out of Ballito Library’s 7100 members have already signed up for e-book access, with only nine readers actively using the new e-book app every day.

According to Alisha Steenkamp, who is assistant manager of research and planning at KZN provincial library services, this small number is growing with 1227 e-book members across the province.

“We launched this new app in January last year and it has been gradually growing in popularity. It has only recently been available to the public in Ballito, but e-books are available to all members throughout the KwaDukuza area,” said Steenkamp.

The app can either be downloaded onto your computer or onto your tablet or smartphone via the OverDrive website, which will allow you to borrow any three books for 14 days at a time. After this two week period, the books will be automatically taken off the system, which means late fees are a thing of the past.

The online library has titles ranging from the classic works of Shakespeare and Dickens to the latest bestsellers of 2015 such as Patti Smith’s M Train and Gregory Maguire’s After Alice. Pre-releases of this year’s latest titles are also available and updated online every two weeks, with The Ex by Alafair Burke and The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth tipped to be among the 2016 bestsellers.

Users have the option to return books before the two week loan period and renew books they have not finished without having to step foot in the library.

While still in its beginning stages, this new app aims to offer books in multiple languages to increase the number of people able to use it.

“We buy new titles once a month for the app and while e-books are currently available in English and Afrikaans, we are trying to get titles in Zulu as well, as there is a real need for it. Sadly, at this stage it all depends on the availability of these books at the publishers who supply us,” said Steenkamp.

She added that this new app will ultimately change the way people use and access public libraries, allowing members unrestricted access from the comfort of their own homes.

Local librarian, Mahadew said that while the app is exciting, help is still needed in the library itself.

“Not many new books have been coming into the library, so we would appreciate any donations of newer books from the public,” said Mahadew, who added that any donated books can be brought to her in the Ballito Library on Compensation Beach Road.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.