Enterprise public library offers e-reference books from anywhere

Using funds from a $2,500 donation from the Byrd Family Foundation, the Enterprise Public Library is now offering e-reference books through its website.

The 577-book collection offered through Gale Resources, would cost nearly $37,000 if a physical copy of each book were purchased.

However, through the e-reference program, EPL was able to gain electronic access to all those titles for less than $3,000.

“We wanted something that would provide for our community,” said EPL Director Denise Unruh-Kitch. “Gale is a well known name and there are some amazing titles available.”

Unruh-Kitch said any EPL member with a library card in good standing can now access the e-reference collection from anywhere via the Internet.

Members can visit the library’s website at www.enterpriselibrary.org and use the “catalog” feature to search for reference books.

Unruh-Kitch said users could also click the “Library Electronic Resources” link on the left side of the page to use the Gale online library search box to find various reference titles.

“Once they’ve accessed (a book) they can save it as a PDF, download it to an e-reader or personal computer or print it out,” she said.

According to Unruh-Kitch, average savings can be up to 98 percent of the cost of an individual title.

“The program is very affordable and very user friendly,” Unruh–Kitch said. “Plus you don’t have to worry about library hours or book availability.”

Unruh-Kitch said the average copyright date for the library’s current physical reference books was 1986 before the e-reference program was purchased.

“That’s awful,” she said. “I wanted to bring us back up to a gold standard.”

Unruh-Kitch said most of the books in the new e-reference collection are from the last three years, and each year the collection can be updated for a small fee.

Unruh–Kitch made sure to thank the Byrd Family Foundation, saying theirs and other donations from library patrons are what made the program possible.

“I wanted to use it for something very unique,” she said. “This is a long-lasting gift. This family has taken us to another level.”

For more information, contact the Enterprise Public Library at 347-2636.