The book industry is constantly evolving, and the Albany High library has to keep up with the pace. That’s why as of January 30th, the library has six Barnes and Noble Simple Touch Nooks available for checkout.

The Nooks are the result of an Albany Fund for Education grant the library received last year. The ultimate goal is to both incorporate the Nooks into the classrooms as well as distribute them to students for personal use.

The Nooks feature both nonfiction and fiction titles, including James Dashner’s Maze Runner, The Hunger Games trilogy, Karen Blumenthal’s Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition, and over thirty others. Suffice it to say, the Nooks have something for everyone.

A key feature of the Nooks is their accessibility. They store a multitude of books, and their font enlargement and touch screen capabilities allow the books to be read as never before.

Acquiring the Nooks is only the latest of the library’s many initiatives this year. The library played a key role in the district-wide Big Read celebration in November. It also recently began a contest in which students who like the library’s Facebook page are entered into a weekly drawing. These steps help the Albany High library play a larger role in both the school environment and the greater community.

Anyone interested in the checking out a Nook should inquire in the library. Parent permission will be required for students. With this simple touch, using the Albany High library has become much more innovative.