Here at the Ignacio Community Library (ICL) we are careful to ensure our materials are available to our patrons in a variety of formats. This is because everyone’s information needs are different, and sometimes the same patrons have varying format needs depending on the circumstances.  

There was a time when libraries housed only physical books (and mostly only hardcovers, as they are so much more resilient under the stress of multiple circulations). That time is far in the past. According to the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, 90% of public libraries offer electronic collection materials, such as eBooks and eAudiobooks for checkout. In 2020, eBook sales in the United States surpassed $1.1 billion in revenue, and worldwide eBook sales are projected to surpass $17 billion by 2025 (Litner, 2024).  

Personally, I grew up with physical books and always carried my current book on my person for many years. I largely switched over to eBooks back around 2008 when I purchased my first eReader (a Nook). But I continued to read all the book formats, usually based on which copy became available first to me through my local library. For example, when I first wanted to read The Martian by Andy Weir, I checked out the CD audiobook version (back then, I had a car with a CD player in it); this version was unavailable from Libby, the library eAudiobook app, so that’s why I checked out the physical audiobook version. I loved it.  

I ended up checking out the physical hardcover book so my husband could read it, too, as that was his preferred format at the time (I ended up reading that, too, because it was there and such a great story). About a year or so after that, I ended up recommending The Martian to a patron and that made me want to read it again, so I checked out the eBook from Libby and purchased the eAudiobook through Audible. I was so excited to discover that the eBook version came with a bonus short story and interview with the author! Interestingly, the Audible version had a different narrator than the CD audio version (Wil Wheaton vs. Ray Porter) so that was a new version which hit me slightly differently, so it was a new experience entirely. I share this story to illustrate how one patron can be served by multiple formats, depending on the circumstances. 

ICL’s current available formats include physical books and materials (hardcover and softcover books, CD audiobooks and Playaways, DVDs, and Library of Things items), digital items (eBooks and eAudiobooks through Libby and CloudLibrary, videos through Kanopy), Wonderbooks and Bookpacks (physical books with physical audiobooks included), Launchpads and multimedia kits (tablets, backpack kits, and Great Courses packs). Having this wide range of available types of materials ensures that we can meet the needs of the greatest range of patrons.  

If you haven’t tried eMaterials, download the free Libby and/or CloudLibrary app today, sign in with your library card, and enjoy! Pop into the library if you need assistance with this process and our staff will be happy to help!