You can't book a ride on a T bus, but you can now ride a T bus with an e-book

The BPL and the MBTA have launched a QR-coded digital-content service that will let people boarding buses at 20 Boston stops quickly access digital versions of books, newspapers and magazines to go.

Library cards are not required to use this service and readers don’t need to download an app, as the City’s primary goal with this pilot is to introduce riders to the Library’s offerings, making resources through the BPL more accessible and convenient for families.

In the pilot program, the Library has focused on items that are easy to browse for riders on the go, including poetry, short stories, and short audiobooks, as well as a selection of best sellers, and titles for children and teens. The newspaper and magazine content includes 7,000 titles from over 125 countries.

The pilot program consists of large decals placed on sidewalks at 20 T bus stops in the city - the decals are "slip proof," the city assures us.

The system lets users check out up to five titles at a time for two weeks. After two weeks, riders can re-scan the QR code and check out new materials.