Newcastle , where he is chief librarian , is considering buying some e-book reading devices to lend to older , housebound residents .
纽卡斯尔的首席图书馆馆长，正在考虑购买一些电子图书阅读设备借给那些年老的、足不出户的居民。
He pointed out that e-books were not only cheaper , because of the lack of wear and tear and thefts , but they also offered great opportunities for older housebound readers .
The downturn means that some $ 1 billion has gone from the state 's budget of $ 7 billion since july , cutting deeply into funding for education , prisons , health programmes for the old , the disabled , and children , meal deliveries for the housebound , and everything in between .
