What to consider when shopping for an eReader or Tablet With Christmas approaching, are you thinking about giving the gift of gadgets?

eReaders (such as the Kobo Touch or Sony WiFi) and tablets (such as the iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab) were popular gifts last year, and with new models coming on the market, expect that trend to continue. The Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) offers thousands of eBooks for loan on various devices.  Here are some eBook/eReader tips from Reference staff at the Kelowna branch: • If you are shopping for a device, check that is compatible with library eBooks.  Visit http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/ for a list of compatible devices.  • Make sure your library card is up to date.   Please visit or phone your local branch to check the status of your card.  Branch location information is available on the ORL website   (www.orl.bc.ca ) • For instructions on how to download eBooks to a particular device, email us at info@orl.bc.ca or visit the eBooks page on the ORL website

Choosing which eReader or tablet is best for you is a very personal decision.  Library staff cannot make specific model recommendations, but they can suggest where to look for consumer/purchasing information.  Contact your local branch for help finding consumer reviews and advice. When it comes to deciding between an eReader and a tablet, here are some points to consider.  You may want an eReader if:  You will only be reading books (and not magazines or newspapers)  You want something lightweight  You plan to do a lot of reading in the sun!  Tablets will have more glare than eReaders  You want longer battery life  Ereader batteries can last from two weeks to a month, much longer than tablet batteries (which may last only up to a week)  You want to save money! ($100 for an eReader versus $200-500 for tablets) A tablet may be the way to go if:  You want to access a variety of applications  Music/audio (including playing audiobooks)  Digital magazines (available from the ORL website)  Email  Video  Games  Apps (including different eBook apps)  You want a larger screen size

Most electronic stores will have different eReader/tablet models you can test drive.   Some things to look for: • Which device is easiest to navigate?  Which device has the easiest keyboard to use?  Is one device touch screen more responsive than another? • Which device gives you the best options to change the print/font size? • Which display screen looks the best?  Do you get too much glare from one screen?  Is another screen too dark?  What options are available to change the screen display?

Any questions?  Email us at (info@orl.bc.ca), contact your local branch, or call our Kelowna Reference Department at 250-762-2800, Ext. 1416.