Newscolumn

If you’re interested in e-books, then the Liberal Memorial Library has what you’re looking for. All you have to do is go to our website at lmlibrary.org, look on the left hand side, click on the “Downloadable Audiobook, EBook and Magazine Help” link and you’ll be on your way.

There are a few sites that you can use to download books like 3M and Enki, but I’m going to talk about Freading because it works a little differently way than the other library eBook services. It is more of a rental/subscription model, but it’s free. You don’t have to buy anything. It works on a token system.

Each patron using the service is allotted five tokens per week. The State Library pays Freading based on how many tokens are used (we don’t pay for the tokens you do not use.) Freading then pays the publishers based on how many times each of their books were borrowed by patrons of all libraries using Freading.

Now here’s the real neat thing — all books on Freading are always available. There are no holds. If there’s a book that you want to read, provided that you have enough tokens, you can download it immediately.

When logged in, the number of tokens you have used is shown in the upper right side on the Freading website. Unused tokens roll over for four weeks (based on when you first logged in to Freading), then your account is reset to zero, and a new five tokens are issued.

Books “cost” different numbers of tokens (four, two, or one), usually based on the age of the book.   This is always shown on the cover of the book in the upper left corner. Each book is on loan for 14 days.

You may “spend” your tokens however you wish.  You could get as many as five books with your five tokens each week if you wish to read books that are no longer new.  And if you run out of time while reading a book, most renewals are free or cost one token.

Probably, the biggest drawback with this site is that the selection will be limited. While you may not find many of the major publishers and authors on this site, there should be something from smaller publishers and lesser authors that may pique your interest. The bottom line is that Freading gives you another alternative to eBooks.

For more information on Freading and how to get started, go to http://www.kslib.info/digitalbooks.html.

Here are some books currently on Freading:

Charlie Brown and Friends by Charles M. Schulz
First published in 1950, the classic Peanuts strip now appears in more than 2,200 newspapers in 75 countries in 25 languages. Phrases such as “security blanket” and “good grief,” which originated in the Peanuts world, are now part of the global vernacular, and images of Charles Schulz’s classic characters—Charlie Brown kicking the football, Lucy leaning over Schroeder’s piano—are now universally recognized.

Brody by Larry Matysik
Written by his best friend and widow, this compelling biography of international wrestling superstar Bruiser Brody provides an unparalleled look at his life and death. At six-foot-five and a muscular 320 pounds, Brody was a giant in the ring who evoked fear in his opponents and respect from the wrestling community. In the geographical segregated wrestling world of the 1970s and 1980s, where each area had its own stars, Brodys intensity made him one of the few recognized as celebrities across the country. Featuring candid discussions about the nature of wrestling during Brodys heyday as well as a frank description of his horrific murder and its aftermath, this revealing account illustrates why Brody continues to be one of the most beloved figures in wrestling.

Safe At Home by Willie May Aikens
An intimate portrait of a tortured player, this memoir culls interviews, letters, and the personal account of former Kansas City Royal Willie Mays Aikens. Touted from a young age as the next Reggie Jackson, Aikens’ promising career quickly turned disastrous when he fell into drug abuse and was ultimately sentenced to the longest prison time ever given to a professional athlete. Not only an exploration of baseball and culture in the 1980s, this book also delves into the United States justice and penal systems.

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Adult Summer Reading is still going on through the end of July with programs:

E-reader/Tablet workshop – Tuesday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Jump into the electronic age and find out how to use your tablet/e-reader as your own personal library. Learn how to find and download, audiobooks, e-books and e-magazines.

Sustainable Agriculture – Tuesday, July 22 @ 6:30 p.m.
Interested in finding out what is “sustainable agriculture?” This program will give you some insight on the integration of farming, animals, ecology and the environment as well as their relationships with one another.

Writing Workshop – Thursday, July 24 @ 6:30 p.m.
Have you ever wanted to write the great American novel, but didn’t know where to start? This will be the program that will get you going. We’ll have local authors come down and share their tales of how they got started on their novels and publications. They’ll show what techniques they used and how they got their inspirations for their ideas.

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And don’t forget our monthly programming:

Book Chat – Thursday, July 18 @ 6:30 p.m.

Recipe Swap – Monday, July 28 @ 6:30 p.m.