El Paso libraries keep up with digital age

There is no doubt technology has changed how we do things, from listening to music, how we communicate and how we read a book.

That is a challenge the El Paso Public Library has kept up with in this digital age.

Local libraries are now equipped with more computers and online book and magazines. The main branch in downtown El Paso allows customers to play interactive video games like Rock Band.

“I come about three to four times a week to the library,” said Michael Campos.

“Our digital strategy has really been about enhancing the user experience,” said Dionne Mack, Director of Libraries for El Paso.

In 2011, when digital books were first launched at El Paso libraries, 8,257 digital books were checked out.

Fast-forward to 2014, the number of digital books downloaded increased to 63,978.

Mack said libraries have invested a lot into keeping up with the digital age, but she has seen the benefits it offers children and adults.

She added the library is still sees a steady number of customers who check out paper books.

Between September 2008 and August 2009, more than 1,610,202 paper books were checked out.

In the same time period from 2013 to 2014, the number increase by more than 50,000 checkouts.

“Public libraries, we’ve been around since like the beginning of time, so whether the information is on papyrus or or it’s in electronic format our job is to make sure you have access to information,” said Mack.