Say the word "library" and most folks picture shelves and shelves of books. The Lee Road branch of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library system is changing that notion and adding six e-readers and an iPad to its collection. And the devices will be available for loan.

Starting Jan. 24, patrons will be able to check out a Nook or Kindle e-reader for two weeks. In addition, the iPad will be available for a two-hour loan inside the Lee Road Library. 

The Kindle is an Amazon.com product and competes with the Nook, which is sold by Barnes & Noble. Alice Iden, the library's director of adult services, said the library decided to offer both because they are "two of the most popular e-readers on the market."

"We're not advocating one over the other. We just want to give our patrons an opportunity to use an e-reader," she said.

She said the program was a response to patron requests and to changing trends in publishing. During the holidays, librarians received numerous calls from people interested in using the newer devices, Iden said.

The e-readers will come with preloaded content, and the iPad will contain books, magazines and games. The library also has e-books available on its website.

Learning to manipulate the screens takes a little getting used to, Iden said. 

"The trickiest part is getting the touch down," she said. "We're including a cheat sheet of gestures with each device."

To help those who haven't used e-books or iPads, the library created a course to show readers how to use the digital offerings, to be posted on the site when the devices can be circulated. In addition, the library website will have a list of titles available. 

When it comes to circulating e-readers, the library is following the lead of the Mentor Public Library. The library started loaning 12 Nooks and two iPads in April, and the response has been positive.

"Our hold list has 10 or 11 holds," said David Newyear, the adult information services manager. "Patrons enjoy taking them out."

Before launching its loan program, Mentor librarians spoke to institutions on the East Coast and in Wisconsin, Newyear said. He expects patron demand will convince more libraries to offer both digital devices and content.

"There's no question that there's a demand for the downloadable content," he said. "People who already own readers want to be able to download books from the library. "