The Contra Costa County Library system reached a record-breaking one million digital book checkouts in 2020. This accomplishment illustrates the continued growth and importance of library digital lending of e-books and digital audio books, especially in a year with building closures due to the global pandemic.
Contra Costa’s public library system is one of 102 worldwide that surpassed a million checkouts last year. The county system has provided readers with 24-7 access to e-books and digital audio books for several years through OverDrive and its award-winning Libby reading app. Reader interest and usage have grown every year.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating this reading milestone with our patrons,” said Alison McKee, the Contra Costa library system’s interim county librarian. “We are eager to serve members of the community wherever they are, and in these unique and challenging times we are proud to be able to expand our digital collection to do just that.”
The highest-circulating title Contra Costa system readers borrowed through OverDrive in 2020 was “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo. The top-circulating genre was thrillers. Readers just need a valid library card or e-card to access digital books from the library system’s OverDrive-powered digital collection. Readers can use any major device, including those from Apple, Android, Chromebook and Kindle. Visit ccc.overdrive.com or download the Libby app to get started and borrow e-books and digital audio books anytime, anywhere.
Learning tools: The Contra Costa library system has created several short videos designed to help students, teachers and caregivers learn to use some of the most valuable online resources more easily during this time of distance learning and beyond. Learn more about and watch at ccclib.org/library-learning-tools. Video tutorial topics include how to get an eCard and how to use the catalog, Brainfuse, Explora, Learning Express, NoveList, OverDrive/Libby and Tumblebooks.
Unemployment assistance: Live unemployment benefits coaches are available to help workers determine unemployment eligibility benefits using state and federal guidelines. Filling out the application and finding the right unemployment resources can be overwhelming. During this unprecedented time, Brainfuse can help workers navigate the process and receive the correct benefits. Access to live coaches and resources is free with your library card.
Black History Month: Some of the libraries’ favorite storytellers at 10 a.m. Feb. 2 will sing songs and read from their favorite books in honor of Black History Month. Watch on the library system’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ccclib or on its YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/theccclib.
Chef Yan: The library branches are hosting Chef Martin Yan at 4 p.m. Feb. 2 for a virtual cooking class to help ring in the Chinese New Year. For more than four decades, the celebrity chef has traveled around the world, sharing the best of Chinese and American culture, food and personal enrichment with multiple generations of audiences. His grand vision is shaped by more than 3,500 culinary and travel TV shows, 32 cookbooks and several restaurants in North America and Asia, which include M.Y. China, a highly rated culinary hot spot in San Francisco that recently closed. This class is designed for chefs of all ages. Register for the Zoom class at ccclib.org.
Black Southern art: Do you have the ability to see and create art out of something completely ordinary? To find meaning in things that other people might overlook, even throw away? For centuries African American artists working in the American South had to “make do” with using whatever materials they could find, but what emerged will make you reconsider what art can and should be.
In 2017, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco expanded their collection of African American Art with the acquisition of more than 60 works (including paintings, sculptures, drawings and quilts) from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation in Atlanta. This lecture explores the artists and their works, informed by the historical backdrop in which they were created. Register for this virtual lecture at tinyurl.com/wow-feb10.
Visit ccclib.org to sign up for a library card and get connected to books and resources. For questions about library services and programming or account information, contact the library system via online chat, text questions to 925-290-7627 or email ask@library.cccounty.us.
Brooke Converse is the Contra Costa County Library system’s public information officer and can be reached at brooke.converse@library.cccounty.us.
