The MLC Digital Libraries User Group met today here at MLC. Representatives from the 16 participating libraries meet twice a year to discuss collection development, training, promotions, tech issues, and the latest and greatest products available.

Today much of the discussion centered on the addition of downloadable videos to the collecton. To paraphrase Kelli Perkins from Herrick District Library – what better way is there for libraries to improve their image and interest new patrons than to offer the newest thing out there?

The circulation numbers for the site – ebooks.mlcnet.org – have soared since it went live in October 2004. In January there were a record number of checkouts – 2,537!

The MLC Digital Libraries is a shared growing collection of eBooks and downloadable audio books available through the OverDrive/DLR system. There are currently 16 participating libraries, Ann Arbor District Library, Capital Area District Library, Grosse Pointe Public Library, Hastings Public Library, Herrick District Library, Kalamazoo Public Library, Kent District Library, Loutit District Library, Macomb County Library, Orion Township Public Library, Plymouth District Library, Portage District Library, Salem-South Lyon District Library, Spring Lake District Library, Sterling Heights Public Library, and Troy Public Library. New group members are accepted at any time. Any patron of those libraries may check out eBooks or downloadable audios from the comfort of home. Authentication is dependent on each library – through the use of library cards.