CW MARS Rolls Out New eCard to Help Promote Digital Equity
CW MARS recently rolled out an electronic library card (eCard) to allow patrons without a library card fast access to electronic collections. The CW MARS eCard makes library content more accessible for patrons who have difficulty physically getting to the library or who primarily borrow electronic content. “We want to make sure all residents have access to library content,” said CW MARS Executive Director Jeanette Lundgren. “The eCard aims to do just that by allowing our patrons without library cards to quickly access library content from the comfort of their own home.” eCards give our patrons access to over 170,000 shared eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines as well as access to their local library's eContent. During the pandemic, our libraries have seen an increase in the usage of electronic materials. CW MARS continues to see checkouts of electronic materials climb. In fiscal year 2021 there were over 1.9 million checkouts on eContent, which was 24% higher than the previous fi