Want to renew a book or place one on hold? We have an app for that. Library hours or locations? We have an app for that. Download an eBook? Find information fast? We have an app for that, too.

The San Juan Island Library recently launched “Library Now“, a mobile app that puts the library at your fingertips. From any mobile phone or tablet connected to the internet you can instantly tap into library resources, anytime, anywhere. You can search the library catalog, check your account, ask a question, find events, and more.

To access the library’s mobile app, point your device to wa.boopsie.com, or search Library Now in your mobile device’s app store and download the app today. It’s free.

“Almost everyone lives on their mobile phones these days, so it’s important for the library to be easily accessible whenever and wherever people need access to our staff and rich resources,” says Laurie Orton, director. “Our mobile app puts library information just one click away with much faster access than going through a browser. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this new way to use the library by downloading our app today.”

Searching the catalog with the mobile app is easy. Just type the first few letters of two or three words and search results will begin to appear. For example, if you’re looking up Mark Twain in the catalog, just type “ma twa.” Once you find the title you’re looking for, you can place it on hold right from your phone.

“You can get to our extensive list of databases through the app, too. Find news or magazine articles or work with Learning Express to study for a vocational test or school, or use any of our other online databases” Orton added.

The LibraryNow app was developed by Boopsie Inc. More than 250 libraries and universities use Boopsie to increase community and campus visibility. Easy to implement and affordable for all size libraries, Boopsie solves the problem of unwieldy website-viewing on a small screen.

The project was coordinated by the Washington State Library, and uses funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, as well as the federally funded Library Services and Technology Act.

For more information on Library Now, visit sos.wa.gov/q/LibraryNow or contact the library at 360-378-2798 or sjlib@sjlib.org.