When Cleveland Public Librarian Cynthia Orr checks her new Motorola cell phone, in addition to making calls, it's to read new eBook titles available from the CLEVNET Digital Library Connection.

Established in 1869, the Cleveland Public library entered into an agreement with digital media company OverDrive to open a circulating eBook and digital media collection back in January of 2003.. OverDrive launched its application and service for libraries the November before that.

The Cleveland Public Library was the first to add OverDrive's Mobipocket eBooks to their download libraries. With the free Mobipocket Reader software, patrons can download and read titles on Motorola, Samsung, and Nokia Smartphones, virtually all PDAs, and on personal and notebook computers.

"It's surprising how clear and readable eBooks appear on the color screen of my Motorola cell phone," said Ms. Orr. "With my AT&T Wireless account and Motorola Smartphone, I can browse the library website, download eBook titles to the phone and begin to read. Mobipocket software is easy to use and with the phone's built-in media card, I can transfer eBooks to my PDA or PC to finish reading a title. As with Adobe eBooks in PDF, after the lending period expires, the title automatically returns itself to the library ready for the next patron," she added.

Library eBooks are available from dozens of publishers including HarperCollins Perfectbound, McGraw-Hill, Time Warner, RosettaBooks, eReads, and Fictionwise. Mobipocket can be used on PDAs running Palm OS 3.x and higher, as well as all Windows Mobile devices except Smartphone 2003. Symbian smartphones can also use the eBook reader, including Nokia Series 60 and 80 handsets as well as UIQ phones, such as the P900 from Sony Ericsson.

Dozens of other libraries offer eBooks in the Mobipocket format, including the Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH) and the Essex County Library (UK).