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Free Library Puts Its Digital Collection Within Arm's Reach at a Septa Train Station

By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Septa commuters will be able to pass the time on trains this month with a good book, thanks to a "virtual" library.

Today, at Suburban Station, Septa and the Free Library of Philadelphia were celebrating the upcoming National Library Week (April 14-20) by featuring what is believed to be another Philadelphia first: a virtual library at a train station.

There are now 76 brightly colored virtual library boards on the Suburban Station platform, at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard, with library folks ready to demonstrate the ease with which you can access the library's digital collection.

Free Library president Siobhan Reardon (in photo) says riders will find a sample of 80,000 e-books, 8,000 audiobooks, and 1,000 author podcasts at the Suburban Station kiosk throughout the month of April.

"The virtual library at Suburban Station is just one of the many ways that the Free Library is expanding beyond our physical walls," she said.

SEPTA riders can access the materials by scanning a QR code or by going to the library's web site, freelibrary.org.

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