The Kansas City, Kan., Public Library is launching a digital eCard service to offer free, at-home access to entertainment and information resources for people in the metro area.
Similar to Netflix or Amazon Prime, this new service will give instant access to thousands of digital items such as ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, magazines, and research resources all for no cost to the user.
Users will be able to access the library’s current digital collection, along with new entertainment options such as streaming movies, music, and digital audiobooks from services like Hoopla and OneClickDigital. Most items will allow multiple users to access them at the same time, resulting in no wait time.
Signing up for an eCard is a fast and easy process that only requires an Internet or mobile connection. Those who want to sign up will simply need to go to KCKPL’s eCommunity website and register for an account; a library visit is not required.
Once they have signed up for the eCard, they can immediately begin checking out digital items. The eCard will officially launch on Nov. 18, but a sneak peek of the service can be seen at http://ecommunity.kckpl.org.
It is the hope of KCKPL that the eCard will expand the ability of individuals to access library services, particularly those people who do not normally visit a library branch, according to a library spokesman. Anyone who is eligible for a library card is able to sign up for an eCard and access the items available in the eCommunity, whether they are currently a library patron or not. Those who currently have a library card with KCKPL will automatically be granted access to the new eCommunity. The eCommunity is accessible on computers, mobile phones, and tablet devices.
The library can be found online at kckpl.org.
– Story from Kansas City, Kan., Public Library