Bath’s Patten Free Library recently introduced cloudLibrary, a cloud-based rental system for electronic books and electronic audiobooks. The system replaces Overdrive, the library’s previous online rental system. The decision for the switch was made at the state level by Maine InfoNet, a collaborative of over 140 libraries across Maine.

Once readers download the cloudLibrary app onto their phone, tablet or their electronic device excluding the original Kindle Fire Tablet, they have access to the 10,000 books and audiobooks currently in the system. According to Maine InfoNet President James Jackson Sanborn, about 1,500 titles are to be added annually. Folks can download three books at a time, with 21 day rental periods. The media will download directly to the device, which librarian Roberta Jordan said is much smoother than the previous Overdrive system.

“I think people will find it a lot easier,” said Jordan. “Once you log into the app it always stays open, and all you have to do is click on it to find your books. There are faster download times, too, and the cloud system is much more intuitive.”

If readers finish a book before the 21 day rental period, they can return it by clicking the “return” button next to the book.

“And you don’t have to worry about late fees,” said Jordan. “After 21 days the book will return automatically.”

Jordan said that members of all 140 libraries involved in Maine InfoNet can rent books from any of those libraries through cloudLibrary, and schools will have access to the system as well.

“More people read print books, but judging by the number of holds that are in place on cloudLibrary, I would say the people who read books online are faithful to the transition,” said Jordan.