Press Release

“NEIBORS” Gives Library Patrons a New Way to Enjoy Books Users Can Check-out and Download Popular Audio Books Online

Let’s be NEIBORS! Library patrons now have anytime, anywhere access to a dynamic collection of digital audio books through the new library service NEIBORS, the North Eastern Iowa Bridge to Online Resource Sharing. NEIBORS is coordinated by East Central, North Central and Northeastern Library Service Areas and is a collaboration of 94 member libraries.

With a valid library card, members of participating libraries can log onto the digital library website, install the free software, check out and download popular and classic audio books to their PC, and then transfer to a portable MP3 player or even burn some titles to CD. Mason City Public Library patrons may call the library at 421-3668 for more information or go directly to the download site at

http://neibors.lib.overdrive.com

Find your item(s) and then check out by 1) selecting your library (Mason City) and 2) typing in your MCPL library card number (=barcode number). The software you need is available free at this site.

Among the growing collection are romance, mystery, and classic literature audio books. Non-fiction titles include biography, humor, business and careers, and more! The 24/7, free access includes audio books from best selling authors like Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, and James Patterson, in addition to titles from the classic writers Leo Tolstoy and Edgar Allan Poe.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the Mason City Public Library to expand the range of library services to patrons,” said Barb Shultz, Interim Library Director. “We are now able to offer popular books to patrons from the comfort of their home or office."

Patrons can check out up to two titles at a time, and at the end of the 7 or 14 day lending period, the audio books will expire from their PC and be automatically returned into the NEIBORS digital collection. With the digital titles, there are no late fees or damage costs. The service is free, easy-to-use, and best of all, available anytime from anywhere in the world. Look for the NEIBORS link on the library's homepage: www.mcpl.org.