Placer County Libraries have expanded their pool of books by participating in Zip Books, a program supported by the California State Library that allows librarians to pull from the “shelves” of Amazon.com when a book requested by the public is not available at their Placer County Library branch of choice.
When a library patron requests a book or audiobook that the Library does not own, the library will try to find and purchase the item from Amazon.com, or one of the many third-party book sellers on Amazon.com, and have it shipped directly to the patron’s address. Once the book has been read, or heard in the case of an audiobook, it is returned to the local library branch where it becomes available to future patrons as part of the library’s permanent collection. The program allows only one item per Zip Books request, but once the book or audio book is returned to the library, another Zip Books request can be made.
There is no cost to patrons to “check out” a book through Zip Books, and all Placer County Library members are encouraged to participate in the program, provided any fines and/or fees they owe to the Library are less than $5.00.
The Zip Books program includes new and used regular or large print books or audiobooks that are available on Amazon.com. Books that cost more than $35.00 will require approval by the Library and videos and DVDs are not available through the Zip Books program.
Placer County’s Zip Books program is funded by the California State Library through a grant from Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The Placer County Library is one of only 16 libraries throughout the State that are participating in this program.
For more information on the Zip Books program, check out the flyer here.