For Immediate Release
April 6, 2023
Contact:
Lilly Talbert, Communications and Administrative Coordinator
Vermont Department of Libraries
(802) 636-0023 | lilly.talbert@vermont.gov
The Vermont Department of Libraries is pleased to introduce the Palace Project App for library users statewide. The application expands users’ access to eBooks and eAudiobooks by connecting a wide array of exciting content in one simple all-in-one platform.
This new free service uses one platform to make content available from the Vermont State Library collection, Green Mountain Library Consortium’s OverDrive (Libby), Baker & Taylor, Digital Public Library of America, and Palace Marketplace, which includes content from Amazon Publishing, Audible, and the Indie Author Project. Patrons no longer need to switch between multiple apps.
To borrow material, patrons download the Palace Project App and log in with their local library card number and PIN/password. They can then browse thousands of offerings, searching by title, author, category, and much more. Use of the Palace Project App markedly increases the depth and variety of material especially patrons of smaller libraries have at their fingertips. Materials are available for all ages, in multiple languages, and with various accessibility features. The Palace Project broadens access to digital resources for Vermonters across the state, including those living in rural areas.
“The Vermont Department of Libraries saw that the Palace App could be a revolutionary next step in the way that Vermonters access eBooks and eAudiobooks,” said Tom McMurdo, Assistant State Librarian for Information and Access. “Offering this service for free underscores the Department’s commitment to equity across communities, regardless of population, location, or the size of their local library.”
“Fletcher Memorial Library patrons are so thrilled to have Palace,” said Jill Tofferi, Director of the Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow, Vermont. “Our patrons are quick to tell me the selection is great. Not only is the wait time short, if any wait at all, but Palace allows our patrons to peruse all of our e-Content from a single app.”
The Vermont Department of Libraries rolled out the Palace Project in two waves last year and currently 70 libraries take part. The Department will soon initiate a third rollout phase. This service is available for free for all Vermont libraries and their patrons. More information can be found here.
This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Vermont Department of Libraries.
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About the Palace Project
Funded by a $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Palace Project is a division of LYRASIS working in strategic partnership with Digital Public Library of America.
About the Vermont Department of Libraries
The Vermont Department of Libraries is housed within the Vermont Agency of Administration and supports Vermont libraries as they work to ensure access to quality information for their patrons. To learn more, visit libraries.vermont.gov and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums and related organizations. The agency’s mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Its grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit imls.gov and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
