Library customers may check out a NOOK for free using a valid library card for a loan period of 21 days. Customers may download materials from the more than 90,000 e-books and e-audiobooks available through the library's website, or from the Barnes and Noble website (through the customer's personal account). At the end of the loan period, the customer returns the NOOK to the location from which they borrowed it.

"I'm glad to see the library make this technology accessible to all members of our community. Reading is the most crucial skill for children and adults. While the way we read changes, the importance of reading does not," commented Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

Since October 2011, library customers have borrowed NOOK e-readers more than 2,500 times, with 77 percent of customers reporting satisfaction with their experience. The pilot project provided e-readers for loan to library customers at seven locations: Cesar Chavez, Harmon, Palo Verde, Saguaro, Juniper, Acacia and Burton Barr Central Libraries.

The acquisition of 200 NOOK e-readers for the pilot project was funded with a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.

For more information, call 602-262-4636 or visit phoenixpubliclibrary.org. Phoenix Public Library is a system of 16 branch libraries and the Burton Barr Central Library. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/phxlibrary and "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/phoenixpubliclibrary.