This summer, St. Louis County Library (SLCL) will expand the popular ePopUp Library program to five area children’s healthcare facilities, including SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. The ePopUp Library gives users immediate access to thousands of popular digital books and audiobooks by simply scanning a QR code. There is no library card required, and materials may be borrowed for seven-days. The collection features hundreds of popular children’s books including “Dog Man,” “Wings of Fire” and “Spy School.”
Kristen Sorth, St. Louis County Library Director & CEO said, “We are thrilled to work with these five organizations to provide their young patients, families and caregivers with easy access books and audiobooks. The healing power of reading has been demonstrated over and over again. Books are filled with adventures and comfort, and include stories with humor, courage and friendship.”
“We are thrilled about the St. Louis County Library ePopUp Library program that we will be able to offer to our patients and their families. We put books in the hands of our patients every day, but not all children and family members can access traditional books. This resource is a way to further our reach, helping all our families find the stories that will foster a love of literacy,” said Ella Trinkle, Special Education School Teacher, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.
The ePopUp children’s collection will feature over 300 children’s titles when the program launches on June 20. Parents and caregivers will be able to access the full collection through a separate QR code, which features adult bestselling fiction and nonfiction titles, along with some teen titles. Users will need an internet connection to browse the collection, but items can be downloaded for reading or listening offline.
SLCL’s ePopUp Library launched in 2023 at locations throughout St. Louis County including select MetroLink locations, St. Louis County government offices, Schnucks stores and throughout St. Louis Lambert International Airport. To date over 3,850 titles have been checked out through the program.
eMedia usage has surged over the past several years. In 2024, over 3.6 million items were borrowed from SLCL. ePopUp Library is a convenient and easy way to encourage literacy in our region. SLCL is the only library in the Midwest to offer this program.
To access the ePopUP Library at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, ask a caregiver or Child Life specialist who can provide links to the sites.
