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Ebooks in the Age of COVID-19

 Perhaps there is only so much TV a person can stand or perhaps it is the restrictions that some put on themselves against going to stores for anything other than groceries, or perhaps some people know how printed books have been shown to be disease carriers (COVID can be found up to three days in printed books), or maybe it is a mix, either way, libraries have seen a growth in ebook use. 



The Northbrook library in Illinois published that they saw dramatic growth in their digital checkout, with a 308% increase in ebook checkouts and a 165% increase in digital audiobook downloads, compared to the same month in 2019.  The District of Columba Public Libraries saw a similar impact, with an increase in digital checkouts that was 37% higher as compared to the same month last year. In Ireland, the latest data on book patronage has shown that during the pandemic downloads of ebooks downloads have increased to 529,416 over the last nine months (2020), while the total for last year (2019) was only 345,877. According to OverDrive ebook lending across the USA has increased by nearly 50 percent since March 9.

Who is doing the digital reading?

  • children's e-books have more than doubled
  • young adult fiction has increased by more than 50%
  • adult fiction has increased by more than 30%

A reader gotta read, and a book is a book, is a book. So print or digital enjoy the book and enjoy the read, but don't forget to wash your hands, keep social distancing, and wear a mask.


https://www.npr.org/2020/06/16/877651001/libraries-are-dealing-with-new-demand-for-books-and-services-during-the-pandemic

https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=library-ebooks-streaming-video-audiobooks-grow-as-public-libraries-close-branches-covid-19

https://www.northbrook.info/keep-in-touch/news/impact-digital-materials-library-usage-during-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/shhh-downloads-prove-a-big-noise-for-ireland-s-libraries-in-lockdown-mb8p6z6xm

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/06/26/heres-how-long-coronavirus-can-live-surfaces-and-air/3256678001/


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