According to the Morris Sun Tribune, the Hancock City Council approved a move forward with ebooks at the Hancock Public Library. It will be a way to add titles, not shelf space, to the library – but it’s an effort that required a few backers, as the Sun Tribune pointed out…

The problem was that the library budget is very tight and has already been determined for next year. The cost to build the system in the library will be $1,096 each year for the next four years. {Librarian Phyllis} Joos added that she recently applied for a grant for a laptop computer that would cost $700 and was awarded $1,000 from the Blandin Foundation’s Broadband Technical Opportunities Program. She could use this extra $300 to defray some of the cost. She suggested that the remainder be taken from the amount budgeted for purchasing books.

After some discussion, the council decided to approve adding the new system to the library in an effort to keep up with the latest in technology. The extra expense can then be worked into future budgets as needed.