Youth to get Kindle access

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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:29AM

Preteens and teenagers in Elmwood Park will soon be able to take hundreds of library books home without all of the heavy lifting.

Elmwood Park Library is in the process of purchasing two new Kindle computer tablets, which will be able to be checked out by young library users 10 years old and older. The Kindles will have hundreds of titles geared toward what may interest their age group.

Only adults currently can use the library’s Kindles. The library has six Kindles available for adults, but Shawn Strecker, the library director, said prices for the tool are becoming more reasonable, and she decided to provide a few for the younger library patrons.

“I’m a big believer in trying things out before you buy, and this way you can try it (the Kindle) out to see if you like it,” she said.

Like the policy for adults, once the Kindles are checked out of the library, patrons have them for three weeks and then the Kindles have to be returned. If not, once the user’s time is up, the Kindles will automatically shut down, and the person will not be able to use the device.