Patryk Wesołowski

The accessibility and convenience of library services are becoming as important as an attractive book collection. Digital forms of sharing materials allow libraries to respond to the changing lifestyles of readers and extend access to collections beyond the traditional library space.
Today’s readers still enjoy reading paper books, but they also expect to be able to access collections whenever they have time and wherever they are. This is particularly true of the younger generation.
In the PROLIB system, such possibilities are provided by e-services, including Digitised Resources and E-book Rental. Although both functions relate to the sharing of digital content, their application is different.

Digitised resources allow readers to browse digital materials without having to visit the library. They are accessible to logged-in users of the INTEGRO catalogue and the mPROLIB application.

The solution works similarly to a traditional reading room. Depending on the library settings, a given material can be used by one person or multiple users at the same time. In the case of restricted access, the resource remains blocked for other readers until the viewing is completed or the user is automatically logged out after a period of inactivity.

The materials are presented in a dedicated browser and their sharing is controlled. This allows the library to retain full control over the availability of content, while enabling the use of the collections regardless of place and time.

The system records each instance of material being made available, allowing librarians to analyse interest in the collections and generate reports on the use of digitised resources. This is an important tool both in everyday work and in preparing statistics on library activity.

The second solution is a digital library lending service, i.e. the possibility of borrowing publications in electronic form directly to the reader’s account. In this case, the materials are borrowed for a specified period of time, just like traditional copies.

The PROLIB system allows files to be shared in various formats, such as PDF, EPUB, MOBI and audio files. The library can manage licences in such a way that digital and paper copies function together. Borrowing one version blocks the other in accordance with the rules of access to a given title.

The borrowing process itself is automatic. The librarian prepares the copy and determines the rules for sharing, while the reader searches for the publication in the catalogue and borrows it themselves. After the deadline, the material is returned automatically or can be returned earlier by the user.

Digital content is properly secured, and the system remembers where the reader left off. In the case of audiobooks, playback takes place in a dedicated player, while other formats may be available for download for a specified period of time in accordance with the library’s regulations.

The growing interest in digital access to collections shows that libraries do not have to choose between tradition and modernity. Virtual reading rooms and digital library lending services complement traditional forms of access to collections, responding to the diverse needs of users.

For some readers, contact with books in their traditional form remains the most important thing. Others prefer quick access to content online. Thanks to the PROLIB system and the INTEGRO multi-search engine, libraries can combine both worlds, increasing the accessibility of their services and reaching new audiences.

The expansion of the system with new e-service modules allows libraries to develop their offer in a way that meets the contemporary expectations of readers, while maintaining full control over the sharing of collections.