Residents will soon be able to access more than 15,000 titles from the Selma-Dallas County Public Library through the simple click of a mouse with the launch of the new e-book program, effective June 1.

Becky Nichols, library director, said the e-book program is something the library has been developing for several months.

“This is a completely new frontier,” Nichols said. “Residents will be able to access the library from their computer, phone — pretty much any smart device.”

The Selma-Dallas County Public Library is partnering with some 60 libraries across the state in a consortium, Nichols explained. By logging on to www.camellia.lib.overdrive, residents will be able to view, check out and read thousands of books and novels. To access the e-book service, residents just need a library card — which is free.

“This is a very basic website — people of all ages will be able to navigate this,” said Crystal Drye, circulation director. “I have my Kindle and I’ve been playing around with the website and getting used to it.”

Nichols said because of evolving technology, pressure was felt for the library to offer a 24-7 service that would be able to constantly provide residents with the most updated titles. Although the Selma-Dallas County Public Library is considered a “small town, local library,” Nichols said she wants it to be as cutting edge as possible.

“I think we’re going to be able to touch a customer base that we have lost a little bit over the years because they are now getting all their reading material through the web,” Nichols said. “This is a convenient service, they will be able to access the library’s resources from several venues now.”

Kellie Robinson, who has also been assisting in the e-book launch, said she believes the program will expand on what the library already offers.

“It’s thrilling because some of the things we don’t have here, I can go on the website and find this great book or novel that we haven’t acquired at the library,” Robinson said.

The website, which the library will subscribe to through a company called Overdrive, displays titles in a visual way, making it easy for residents to view and check out books, Nichols explained.

“We’ve come so far from showing the book ends on the library shelf to now you can see it right there on your computer screen or your phone,” Nichols said. “Now we’re putting it right there on your device to catch your attention — and that’s the fundamental role of the library.”