The Vancouver Public Library now has 2,500 e-books and wants to “lend” them to Vancouverites.

The library recently made a deal with Gale, part of Cengage Learning, for access to almost 1,000 e-books—its largest one-time purchase of electronic resources—according to a VPL press release issued yesterday (March 19).

“We are thrilled to offer this important resource to the community,” city librarian Paul Whitney said in the release. “This electronic reference collection is available online at every Vancouver Public Library branch and can also be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week from any computer whether people are looking for information on multiculturalism, the environment or how to market their small business in the global marketplace.”

The new e-books will be available on the library’s Web site starting April 1.

On April 3, the library will hold training sessions to show the public how to search, print, e-mail, and download digital books and articles.

The library system was founded in 1869, and its 22 branches serve over 370,000 visitors each year.

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