NORTH LOGAN — Imagine getting a popular audiobook recommendation from a friend – only to find out it has a hold on it for several months because the library doesn’t have enough copies.
That familiar letdown is a thing of the past for North Logan residents, thanks to a generous donation from a private donor.
About a week ago, North Logan Library released a deluge of digital book access that reduced wait times down to mere days.
A move that North Logan Library Director Trenton Bateman says was recognized by avid readers almost immediately.
“They were so excited those books are now available – today,” Bateman told Cache Valley Daily.
Right now, about 42% of all checkouts at the North Logan Library happen through Libby, a popular mobile app for borrowing ebooks and audiobooks. As libraries try to meet that growing demand, it creates financial challenges, which typically limits copies and increases wait times. Now North Logan has a goal of reducing wait times to no more than 21 days for most books, and eventually a goal of 10 days or less.
Bateman says this increase in digital checkouts “definitely breathes new life into libraries” and indicates an opportunity where libraries can adapt to continue to promote literacy in a nontraditional way.
“You can see that this is kind of the wave of the future,” he said. “People have very busy lives, so instead of just not reading anymore, people have the ability to hop on an app and listen to a book to and from work.”
North Logan City Mayor Lyndsay Peterson said the donor challenged the city a year ago to exceed the current literary appetite of residents.
“This generous contribution will empower North Logan City and our library to do exactly that,” Peterson said. “It will have a profound and lasting impact on generations of readers, both seasoned and new. We offer our heartfelt gratitude for this meaningful, transformative gift.”
Bateman explained that the statewide Beehive Library Consortium is or cooperative association of libraries that shares resources statewide to improve services and access to all. Any copies it buys are available on Libby to anyone with a library card. It is first come, first serve access and everybody hops in the same line. However, if you are at a specific library that buys more copies – you get better access and are moved to the front of the line.
“If there are no holds on that book, people in that main line will have access to that book. Which will shorten wait times, because there will be more copies available.”
While increased access will give North Logan residents a spot at the front of the line, it will also translates into a ripple-effect of increased availability of digital copies for the rest of Cache Valley residents and around the state, Bateman said.
It will positively impact library users of the statewide Beehive Library Consortium by helping ease digital demand and increasing availability for all.
“If there are no holds on that book, people in that main line will have access to that book, Bateman explained. “Which will shorten wait times, because there will be more copies available.”
The improved access comes at no additional cost to North Logan residents, but avid book worms who don’t live within its city limits may also get a spot at the front of the line by purchasing a library card at the non resident cost of $125 annually.
“North Logan is lucky to have someone who is willing to help facilitate that access,” Bateman said.
A year ago the resident donor wanted to make the experience better for collection and availability, Bateman said, so the library did a trial run and it evolved from there. The donor and the donated amount was not made public.
“It definitely breathes new life into libraries.”
Bateman added that the library continues to evolve with all it offers, including serving as a gathering space and has monthly activities and programs for all ages like Lego and gaming clubs, story times, even an adult Dungeons & Dragons club.