*Editorial*** *http://www.nytimes.com* ** For over a century, New York’s majestic central library on Fifth Avenue has drawn grateful scholars and dazzled tourists. Faced with financial uncertainties and a pressing need to modernize, the president of the New York Public Library system, Anthony Marx, has put forward a $300 million proposal to renovate the flagship building. The planshttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/arts/design/new-york-public-library-counte..., which are still evolving, sound both necessary and forward-thinking in this digital era. But the library’s overseers have to take care that they preserve the essence of this cultural landmark. Mr. Marx and the city must make certain that the renovation provides the widest possible public access to the library’s collection. So far, the city has promised $150 million, and the library must come up with the balance. The plan calls for selling the Mid-Manhattan branch and the Science, Industry and Business Library and folding their collections into the central branch. The central library will then become a circulating library as well as a research facility. Combining the three libraries will mean about twice as many people, or more than three million a year, will use the central branch. To accommodate more users, the architect Norman Foster is expected to design new public space in areas that are now closed. The Rose Main Reading Room and other special collections will remain as they are. About two million volumes will be moved elsewhere, probably to a facility in New Jersey, though more than two million will remain in the building. Mr. Marx has said getting off-site books should take about a day. Though some library lovers want nothing to change, this plan could revitalize the library and make it as much a resource for the public as it is a research haven for writers and scholars. Libraries feel e-book explosion By Annette Baird As the explosion of interest in e-books continues, area branches of the Houston Public Libraryhttp://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=neighborhood%2Fmemorial-news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Houston+Public+Library%22are trying to keep pace with customers' demands by providing the books they want and the help they need to get the most out of electronic reading devices. Libraries in the area have fliers providing instructions on how to get started lending e-reading materials, and Kendall Neighborhood Libraryhttp://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=neighborhood%2Fmemorial-news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Kendall+Neighborhood+Library%22offers a monthly e-reading open house for the uninitiated. Thuy Vohttp://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=neighborhood%2Fmemorial-news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Thuy+Vo%22, who started the open-house program during her recent six-month stint as assistant manager at Kendall, 609 N. Eldridgehttp://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=neighborhood%2Fmemorial-news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22N.+Eldridge%22, said the library had been seeing an increase in demand for help with e-reading devices, especially from older people. "We wanted to spend more time with those who needed it and assist them one-on-one to download a book on their own device," said Vo, now a technology trainer with the library system. "They were very excited, and they felt proud to learn the new technology." Memorial resident Cynthia Granthttp://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=neighborhood%2Fmemorial-news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Cynthia+Grant%22called the Kendall library when she needed help to navigate the e-book system and download books to her Nook. "It's not a difficult process, but it's not intuitive - at least for me," Grant said. "I had to be told what to do to find the books, and they're not always the books you want to read." Grant said the librarian guided her through the process over the phone, and she has since downloaded several books. Of course, with the e-reading devices, the sense of having to use the local library is becoming moot. Depending on availability, members can download e-reading materials anywhere at any time to a wide range of devices, from the Kindle Fire and iPad to smartphones. Other conveniences include emails when requested books become available. When time runs out, access to the book is denied. To get a sense of the popularity of e-book lending, in 2010 7,000 check-outs occurred across the library system. More than six times that number - more than 48,000 - were checked out in 2011. For the first three months of this year, 28,000 e-books had been checked out. E-book checkouts still are but a fraction of the numbers for total library borrowing in the system, which totaled 7.3 million items for 2011. Marianne Loriohttp://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=neighborhood%2Fmemorial-news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Marianne+Lorio%22, electronic resources librarian for the system, said HPL still has a long way to go regarding e-books, of which it carries 14,000. She said some titles are not available to libraries, and there is a wide range in prices for each book. "Not all publishers will work with e-books and libraries," Lorio said. "At this point, my goal is to get as much as what's popular as I can." The library system is part of a consortium of libraries that order as a group. In response to the growth of e-books, the system also is continuing a drive to train librarians. "Our goal in the future is to provide more training to staff so they can pass it on to the customer," Vo said. -- Warm regards. Jayadev P Hiremath Independent Libraries Professional (Former Librarian - IBS,Kuwait) E-mail : jayadevh@hotmail.com LinkedIn : http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jayadev-p-hiremath/44/12a/2a0 Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/people/Jayadev-P-Hiremath/603802230 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.