Don’t tell anyone, but the Deschutes Public Library system has made big improvements in its electronic lending of books.

It’s spending a lot more to buy them — about $200,000 a year, compared to $50,000 just a few years ago. And as of two months ago, all five major publishers sell electronic books to libraries.

That means there are more e-books available, and there’s a better chance the library will have what you want. Library Director Todd Dunkelberg adds: “We now have Stephen King.”

The Deschutes library system has the highest rate in the state for downloads per capita. If digital borrowing were its own separate library, it would be the third busiest library in the local system behind the Downtown Bend Public Library and the Redmond Public Library. The library system loaned out about 212,000 e-books in fiscal year 2013-14.

Digital books are more expensive for the Deschutes libraries in some ways. Library digital copies can cost at least three times more than an ordinary customer would pay for the digital version, Dunkelberg said.

Some publishers require that libraries buy a new digital copy after 26 checkouts or so. Some publishers charge more and have no limits.

Many people prefer real books rather than the electronic versions or prefer buying their own copy. But when the library has a book you want, you cannot beat the price.

If you tried the e-books at the library before and were frustrated, you may want to give them a try again. But let’s keep it between us, so we don’t have to wait to get what we want.