Electronic readers a popular gift - KOAM TV 7

Electronic readers are a popular holiday gift this season but with great technological power, comes the responsibility of figuring out.

Americans bought an estimated 7 million e-readers during last year's Christmas season according to consulting firm Forrester Research Survey.

Judging by Joplin's Best Buy, it is still a big ticket item.

"They are wildly popular this year, and the neat thing this year that we're seeing this year over last year is that instead of this being a Christmas gift for the older customer there are a lot of people getting these for their kids now," says Shawn Giddens of Best Buy.  "They are very, very popular this year for sure."

But just because you receive it does not mean you know how to use it.  Many of those who are not tech savvy are turning to a familiar source - the local library.

"How to use my e-reader is the single most asked question that they receive, and there is not a single day that goes by where someone doesn't come in for assistance for an e-reader," says the Director of the Joplin Public Library, Jacque Gage.

After last years surge in sales Gage says library employees started taking e-reader training course. They also received a grant to buy tablets for hands-on experience, just in time for the holiday season.

"I think the day after Christmas when we open that there are going to be a lot of people coming in for help," Gage says.

The library says as the way we read books evolves, so should our access, and now you don't have to be present to be able to check out your favorite.

"You can do it from home at midnight in your jammies if you want," says Gage.

She also says Joplin Library members can access thousands of e-books and audio books thanks to a shared system between 40 Missouri libraries. She says they will continue to add to services to meet the needed demand - Missouri Libraries 2 Go.

Kansas has a similar program - Kansas EZ Library.