iPad not shown at actual size. Actually, neither is the library.

Technology and gadget super-blog Engadget ran a post today about the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library rolling out its sweet iPad check-out program, allowing card holders to bring home one of Apple’s über-popular tablet computers. If you’ve been following LEPMPL (we say “le-pimple”) on The Facebook, you know all about it. If not ...

If you thought hitting up the local library was far too Web 1.0 for your avant-garde lifestyle, you may want to check out the Eau Claire public library in Wisconsin -- it's not only lending books, but also, iPads. Each one of the 44 available tablets will be stuffed to the digital gills with 1,000 books, ten audiobooks and various apps for your reading (or, not reading) pleasure. Although other houses of learning have launched similar programs, this is the first of note to go with Apple slates for its e-reading experiment. If you're the proud owner of a library card and have less than $10 in fines, you too can get in line for one of the loaners. We wonder, does the old saying "you break it, you buy it" apply here?

– So says Engadget 9/23/11

This is one of the world’s most popular tech-news blogs, so it’s pretty cool. Donated by the Presto Foundation, the iPads can be had for a 7-day loan period or for a 4-hour in-library session. Why do something so awesome? According to LEPMPL:

The goal of the iPad lending program is to provide library customers with opportunities to gain familiarity and comfort with new technology that allows them to make use of alternative methods of enjoying the written and spoken word and to more fully explore the Internet and its vast resources.

UPDATE:

This story seems to be taking the tech-blog-o-sphere by storm. Eau Claire Library Lending iPads – now on ultra-tech-blog TechCrunch.