Lisa George of Middletown bought a Kindle Fire for herself and her mom last Christmas.

“I’m trying to figure out how this thing runs,” said her mom, Elena Crase, of Franklin.

That’s why they came to a Kindle Fire course at the Midpointe Library in West Chester Twp. This branch, as well as the Middletown branch, has offered classes on the Kindle Fire and iPad for about a year.

Bob Hamm, the IT specialist at all Midpointe Library System branches, teaches two, separate, two-hour courses about each specified tablet computer monthly. The first class is a tutorial on how to use the tablets and access a consortium of e-books, audiobooks and music from Ohio library catalogs. The second class covers how to access other digital downloads through the library, like magazines and additional e-books and music.

“If we want patrons to use our services, we have to show them how to access them,” said Hamm.

The Midpointe Library System has offered e-book downloads for two years. The classes were created from patron questions about tablets, such as the difference in the dozens of e-book formats, like .epub and .pdb.

The library focuses on the Kindle Fire and iPad, as they are patrons’ most popular tablets, but may cover others in additional courses, such the Google Nexus, based on need.

Patrons with different tablets can receive the same guided help at branches’ Ask Here desk.

Register for the courses at www.Midpointelibrary.org, under the Events tab. The Middletown branch’s next tablet course covers iPads from 1 to 3 p.m., March 11 and 18. The West Chester Twp. branch has not scheduled March classes yet. Patrons must bring the specified tablet to the classes.

Midpointe Library System in West Chester Twp., Middletown and Trenton also offers these digital downloads for patrons on their website, www.Midpointelibrary.org, under the digital downloads tab. They can be accessed through a computer, tablet or phone.

Axis 360: Download e-books for up to 21 days on this Midpointe Library System e-book catalog (as long as a regular book check-out).

Freegal Music: Download up to five songs a week among thousands of song choices and 50 record labels, including Sony Music Entertainment. Downloads are yours to keep.

Ohio e-book Project: This consortium of Ohio library catalogs allows patrons to download e-books, audiobooks and music for up to 14 days.

OneClickDigital: Download audiobooks for up to 21 days on this Midpointe Library System audiobook catalog (as long as a regular audiobook check-out).

Zinio: Download and read popular magazines, such as Rolling Stone and National Geographic, here. Downloads are yours to keep, but the system will not automatically download each magazine issue, when available.