INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Public Library’s growing collection of free eBooks and audiobooks for children is now available as a separate, easily-accessible site from the Library’s Web branch at www.indypl.org.
Just as the children’s section of a physical library branch is creatively sectioned off, The Kids eReading Room is organized as a safe and family-friendly collection for children ages elementary through middle school that displays content only for children. Made available from OverDrive, a leading vendor of eBooks and downloadable materials for libraries and schools, this dedicated site gives greater exposure to children’s titles and features special collections, such as national award-winning titles and those that have received the Young Hoosier Book Award.
Children and families also can search for titles focusing on their favorite storybook characters, as well as seasonal titles and classic Disney stories. The collection includes more than 3,000 children’s titles including such favorites as Clifford, Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Tank Engine and Fancy Nancy for younger readers; Judy Moody and the Magic Treehouse series for middle readers; and C.S. Lewis, Lemony Snicket, James Dashner, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter for older kids. Subjects include fiction and non-fiction, comic and graphic novels, history, humor, mystery and suspense, picture books, science and nature, science fiction and fantasy, and sports and health. The interface also allows searches according to interest or reading levels.
Library eBooks are compatible for downloading on most eReaders, tablets and mobile devices running the free Kindle app, as well as smartphones, iOS and Android devices. Using their Library card, patrons may download up to 25 items at a time for loan periods ranging from 7 to 21 days or access items from their browser.
From the Library’s homepage, click on “eBooks and Audiobooks” and go to “OverDrive eBooks for Kids.” The direct URL is http://ecollection.imcpl.org/Kids.