During its first month at Washington County libraries, the 3M Cloud Library app became a popular tool for digital readers.
More than 3,100 members logged into 3M Cloud between Sept. 17 and Oct. 16, Washington County Cooperative Library Services reported. On Tuesday morning, Oct. 28, a total 6,223 circulations of 4,084 3M Cloud e-book titles were currently checked out, said senior program educator Jodi Nielsen.
So far, 75 percent of WCCLS 3M Cloud titles have been checked out at least once, Nielsen said.
"WCCLS had one of the fastest uptick in users that we've ever seen," Tom Mercer, Cloud Library Marketing Manager with 3M Library Systems, said in a WCCLS news release.
Mercer credited launch events and library staff training with the program's success at WCCLS.
While WCCLS members could already access e-books through Oregon Digital Library Consortium's Library2Go program, the 3M Could Library app gave them access to an expanded collection directly downloadable to more devices.
Users can browse books by category or peruse featured titles in the 3M Cloud app's shelves on Android, Apple, Nook and Kindle Fire tablets, and Windows and Mac computers. Readers can transfer e-books from computers to Nook or Kobo e-readers, but the app is not yet compatible with Kindle e-readers.
The library is investing about $225,000 this fiscal year in the 3M Cloud program, compared with $88,000 in Library2Go, WCCLS Program Supervisor for Adult Services Lisa Tattersall said in September. To start with, that included about 7,500 3M Cloud titles, which average $30 per copy.
Similarly to print books, the library buys different quantities of each title partially based on reader demand. WCCLS has an additional $23,000 in e-book funds they'll spend based on what reader demand recommends, she said. By comparison, WCCLS libraries have budgeted $2.9 million for print copies this year, Tattersall said.
During the first month of 3M Cloud, library members also checked out or renewed 992,137 total items. Of these, 622,980 were books, according to information Nielsen provided.
Here are the top three 3M Cloud e-books listed for four categories during the program's first month, according to WCCLS:
Fiction for Adults
1. The Casual Vacancy," JK Rowling
2. "Switchblade," Michael Connelly
3. "The Goldfinch," Donna Tartt
Lifestyle Nonfiction for Adults
1. "Crochet Infinity Scarves," Jane Burns
2. "Grain Brain," David Permutter
3. "The Hello Kitty Baking Book," Michele Chock
General Nonfiction for Adults
1. "Show Your Work!" Austin Kleon
2. "Bossypants," Tina Fey
3. "Mission in a Bottle," Seth Goldman
Fiction for Kids and Teens
1. "Flora & Ulysses," Kate DiCamillo
2. "The Fault in Our Stars," John Green
3. "The Julian Chapter (A Wonder Story)," RJ Palacio