Sno-Isle Libraries expands online access

Sno-Isle Libraries will now provide everyone who registers online for a Sno-Isle Libraries library card with immediate and uninterrupted access to Overdrive digital materials and all other digital services.

All Sno-Isle Libraries community libraries and the service center closed to the public at 6 p.m. Friday, March 13, until further notice, said Sno-Isle Libraries Executive Director Lois Langer Thompson.

“This was a difficult decision and was made based on Snohomish Health District recommendations, the Governor’s emergency declaration regarding social distancing, large groups and closing schools,” Thompson said.

“We want all customers to have access to digital materials during the current public health crisis,” said Jessica Russell, Assistant Director of Technical Services-Collection Services for Sno-Isle Libraries.

Overdrive offers ebooks and audiobooks, online learning courses, digital magazines, and digital streaming of movies and TV shows with Kanopy and Hoopla.

Sno-Isle Libraries worked with Overdrive to “reduce the friction” of online library card registration, said Sno-Isle Libraries Assistant Director of Communications Jim Hills.

Before this change, customers who registered online for a Sno-Isle Libraries card could place holds to pick up materials in a community library and had limited access to Overdrive digital services until they visited their community library to verify their physical address.

Additionally, Sno-Isle Libraries customers with blocked accounts won’t have to resolve the issues to continue using Overdrive digital materials, Russell said.