Seychelles National Library launches e-book lending service |16 December 2021
The Seychelles National Library is now providing access to e-books and audio books to its registered members in the country.
The e-book lending service was launched by Julienne Barra, director general for Culture, in a small ceremony held at the Roche Caiman Reading Centre yesterday morning.
Present at the ceremony were the district administrator, Clody Mathiot; representatives from the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT); staff from the library and clients (school children and adults).
An e-book is a text presented in a format which allows it to be read on a computer or handheld devices such as tablets, smart phones, etc.
The library has subscribed to an e-book lending collection which is available to the public, following completion of the registration process. The portal displays many titles of best selling fictions, classics and reference texts.
The free e-lending portal is part of the National Library’s mandate to facilitate the population’s access to reading materials, especially in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the process to support their information needs and self-development.
The digital content can be accessed anywhere and anytime and one can download selected books on personal devices and to carry it around to read off-line, anytime.
The portal to access the e-book lending collection is now live and contents can be accessed via app Libby or portal address seynatlib.overdrive.com after the registration process is completed.
In her opening remark, the principal librarian, Anne Mary Robert, said that through the e-lending service, registered library users will not only be able to access the e-books collection to loan out books at their convenience but also to manage their account. That is to search the catalogue for interesting titles, to loan, renew and return the books, reserve titles borrowed by another reader and to receive alerts when reserved titles are available or the due date is near.
“I encourage everyone, especially children and teenagers who are on school holidays to take the opportunity to register and to enjoy the selection of e-books and audio books available,” she added.
During the launch, clients had the opportunity to test the service by reading downloaded scripts from their smart phones.
“For me it will be much easier to access the books and to read in that manner as I will be able to read any versions selected anytime, especially when I’m not at home, without having to carry any loads,” said Dianne Marcel, a client from Plaisance secondary school who read a poem, ‘A Christmas wish’, for the guests, selected from the portal.
Sixty-one-year-old Lisanne Moumou from Copolia said, “ To tell you frankly, I prefer having the book in my hand and reading it. I’ve been doing it all those years and I am used to it. I like the feel of it in my hands and that tells me that I am reading a book. It’s good to innovate with technology, especially with Covid-19 but for me at a certain time, it hurts my eyes.”
Users have to complete the registration form which is available at the Library premises on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Copy of forms can also be downloaded from the National Library website at www.nationallibraryseychelles.com or users can request a copy via email at loansreg@gmail.com . On completion of the registration process, the users will receive an account number to access the service. People can also call 4387661 or 2724960 for more information.
With the closure of the main library in Victoria, the Seychelles National Library is offering library services at Roche Caiman, Perseverance and Pointe Larue reading centres and at branch libraries at Grand Anse Praslin, Baie St Anne Praslin and La Digue, including in room 301 at Kana Mall, Victoria.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the launch ceremony yesterday.
Patrick Joubert
Photos by Thomas Meriton
