Manno Town Public Library in Kagawa Prefecture introduces 100 kobo Touch eReaders

TOKYO, May 31, 2013 – Manno Town and Rakuten, Inc. today announced that 100 kobo Touch eReaders will be introduced to the first public library in Manno Town, the Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture to be opened on June 1.

Manno Town Public Library was built as a multi-complex along with the Sports Center Manno civic gym, with the aim of promoting reading and revitalizing the community. It is the focus of new cooperative initiatives with private sectors, including the management contracting of the library to the private joint operator Libnet-Miyawaki Shoten Joint Venture and its introduction of kobo Touch eReader devices from Rakuten to be rented out to library users.

Library users can browse freely available Aozora Bunko literature on computers in the IT corner. By borrowing a kobo Touch, they can also enjoy eBooks away from the library, at home or during their commute to school or work. Each of the 100 eReaders is loaded with a different mix of 50 Aozora Bunko titles recommended by the library. Borrowers can enjoy multiple titles on a single device with ease by selecting an eReader with titles they wish to read.   

Manno Town Public Library is preparing for the coming age of digital literature through its proactive embrace of eBooks. By acquiring computers and eReaders equipped with systems for browsing electronic literature in the international standard eBook file format “EPUB”, the Town offers the opportunity to access international standard format electronic literature.

Moving forward, Manno Town aims to pursue greater convenience in its first public library and the development of new style of library with the cooperation of the private sector. Rakuten, as part of its CSR activities, will promote the introduction of kobo Touch devices by public libraries and educational institutions, offering a new reading style and contributing to the cause of developing new libraries and boosting education in Japan.

・  Date:               June 1, 2013
・  Facility:            Manno Town Public Library (Yoshino Shimo 957, Manno-cho Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture)
・  No. of devices: 100
・  Application:       For lending to individual and group library users
・  Content:           Charge-free content Aozora Bunko literature