Nic Eartly accesses the Alabama Digital Library from a PC at the William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle. | Clif Knight

Members of the William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle no longer have to make a trip to the library to check out a book. They can do that now on their personal computer or cell phone.

This was made possible on Wed., Feb. 29, when the library was linked to the Alabama Digital Library. The hook-up was made possible by a $3,000 state grant obtained by State Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle. The grant is automatically renewable for four years.

“Hartselle library patrons are eligible to access the digital library at no charge and download to their PC or cell phone any title on its availability list,” said Hartselle Librarian Emily Love. “All they have to do is log on to camellia.lib.overdrive.com, choose a selection and enter their library card number.”

The service is available 24 hours a day and a Hartselle library cardholder may checkout up to five titles and place five titles on hold. An option that the reader has is to enlarge type size to make reading easier.

Love said titles offered through the Alabama Digital Library are in addition to what is available at the Hartselle library.

“This is a new service for our patrons,” she pointed out, “It’s not intended to take anything away from own library, Rather, it’s designed to give them the latest in communications technology. “We believe it will be especially helpful to young families and children as well as those who find making a trip to the library difficult. It should also increase the circulation of library books and other printed materials.