Librarians were eager to get a first glimpse of 3M’s new Cloud Library ebook lending system and the promised enhancements to OverDrive’s platform-two of the most anticipated exhibits at the American Library Association’s annual conference in New Orleans.
Since the conference opened on June 23, librarians and others have been crowding the showroom floor to listen to the vendor pitches and try out their new systems. The response has so far been positive, with the prevailing sentiment being that both companies are moving in the most desirable direction, namely, ease of use.
Tony Tallent, the director of literacy and learning for the Richland Public Library and a 2008 LJ Mover & Shaker, along with his colleague, Kelly Coulter, the virtual services manager, both observed closely a demonstration of 3M’s system. Richland County is participating in the system’s beta testing.
“The features we are most interested in are ease of download, number one,” Tallent said. “And off the top of my head, there is this discovery terminal. It’s something that immediately draws the attention of our users.”
via ALA Annual 2011: OverDrive, 3M Demos Draw Large Librarian Crowds | Library Journal
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