LAKEPORT >> Lake County Library has a new service called Zip Books to get requested books to patrons faster than through traditional interlibrary loan. In Zip Books, some interlibrary loan requests will be filled with books ordered from Amazon and sent to the patron’s home, at no charge to the patron. The patron reads the book, and then returns the book to the library.
Library patrons request items through the online interlibrary loan form on the library website. Patrons can choose to opt out of Zip Books when they place their requests. Library staff will determine if a Zip Book is the best way to fill a request.
Zip Books arrive in a few days, but a traditional interlibrary loan can take several weeks to arrive. Each patron can have one Zip Book at a time and may have a maximum of five per month. The service can supply regular books, large type books and books on CD.
If a Zip Book is ordered, library staff will notify the patron to expect a package from Amazon in a few days. A book shipped to the patron’s home, and then the patron returns the book and any Amazon paperwork to a library employee. In most cases the book will then be added to the library collection and be available for others to check out. To learn more about Zip Books call 263-8817.
Library director Christopher Veach is excited about the new program.
“Zip Books is a wonderful way to get community input into what should be in our library collection,” he said.
The service is funded by the California State Library and managed by the Califa Group, a nonprofit consortium representing more than 220 libraries, most of them in California. Lake County has received a $9,000 grant to operate a Zip Books program in Lake County. About 30 libraries in rural California currently participate in Zip Books.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
