NYPL's New E-Reader: Everything You Need To Know

Manhattan, NY — The New York Public Library (NYPL) released a new smartphone e-reading app this week called SimplyE. As the name suggest, it's designed to streamline the process of downloading e-books.

"We knew we wanted to make something easier," Nora Lyons, senior publicist for the NYPL, told Patch.

SimplyE works like this:

You download SimplyE from an app store: Here's the link for iOS (iPhone) users and Android (every other smartphone).

Click on a suggested book or search for a unique title:

You'll see the download begin:

And now the book is ready for you to read. The app returns the title to the NYPL in 2-3 weeks, depending on the book. No late fees!

E-material circulation has jumped 241 percent for the NYPL over the last five years with 2.9 million e-materials circulated in 2015. Every few years, columnists will predict the end of print or its resurrection, but many people are taking advantage of the convenience of e-books, regardless of whether they're still reading paper, too.

"One of the most classic library missions is access to information, resources and materials," Lyons told Patch. "Not just having them there but for people to access them."

While SimplyE is currently just available for iOS and Android, the NYPL is working on Kindle Fire and webpage versions, too.

In addition to borrowing titles from the NYPL's collection, you can also download public domain e-books using SimplyE. Those titles you can keep on the app forever.

"You can read Moby Dick right now," Lyons said. "No wait list."