Need reading material? Pierce County library has launched eReading Rooms to help you

People now have access to eReading rooms, which include an array of e-books and audiobooks with a free Pierce County library card.

The Pierce County Library System has created DIY, Teens and Mystery, and Thriller eReading rooms. Readers can find these digital books on OverDrive and on Libby, the reading app from OverDrive.

”We are here for our community, now more than ever while so many people are staying home,” said Georgia Lomax, Pierce County Library executive director. “Meeting residents where they are and with what they need is what Pierce County Library does. And right now our community is online and eager to relax and enjoy with some great online e-books and audiobooks.”

Pierce County’s digital library offers thousands of e-books and audiobooks in a variety of genres for all ages.

Mary Getchell, marketing and communications director for the Pierce County Library System, said the eReading Rooms are designed specifically for people to browse material selected by librarians.

“It is as if you are walking through virtually a physical reading room,” Getchell said. “So, it’s as if you were browsing the shelves, but you’re browsing them online.”

There also are eReading Rooms made for specific ages.

According to Getchell, books are arranged in their respective rooms in relation to their appropriate grade level.

“It is a safe space so that from a parenting standpoint your teenager is browsing in an area that is just for teenagers,” she said.

Readers can browse Pierce County’s Library’s full digital catalog of e-books and audiobooks, instantly borrow titles, and start reading or listening with a valid library card. This service is compatible with all major computers and devices.

All titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period and customers never have late fees. Readers can also download titles onto Libby for offline use.

Pierce County’s digital platform is not limited to e-books. Getchell said that there are also a number of online resources.

K-12 students have access to a free live tutoring service, and Pierce County library staff is producing educational videos for students to watch on YouTube.

“Very similar to the classes and events we had in our libraries, these will now be online. So we’ll do them in Facebook groups, we’ll do them in Zoom,” said Getchell. “We’re really getting that engaging experience as people have been so socially isolated.”

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 11:43 AM.