South Ayrshire Council News

More than 1,000 ebooks and audiobooks have been downloaded by South Ayrshire library users in just three months since the service was officially launched.

Ebooks – full text electronic versions of published titles or audiobooks – are downloadable publications that you can read or listen to on a home computer, laptop, mobile phone, ebook reader, MP3 player or burn to CD, giving you access to your favourite reads anytime and anywhere.

South Ayrshire became the first Scottish Council to offer both free ebooks and audiobooks earlier this year and has already picked up an international award for the scheme.

All you need to give it a try is a computer, an internet connection, a valid South Ayrshire library card (available to anyone living or working in South Ayrshire) and a PIN.

More than 250 of the most current and popular titles – provided by OverDrive, a leading worldwide full-service digital distributor – are available for library users. The service has proved so popular, readers have now downloaded more than 1,000 books.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Portfolio Holder for leisure, said: "The success of the ebooks service comes as no surprise – this is an exciting initiative that gives readers a whole new way to engage with books and reading, using the most modern technologies.

"It gives 24/7 access to our library service and further enhances our online library community. I'm sure the ebooks service will continue to grow from strength to strength and it won't be too long before we see tens of thousands of titles being downloaded."

To access South Ayrshire Council ebooks and audiobooks, visit www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/ereads.