Print
E-mail
New audio book services at Kilgore Library
 |
| News-Times/Kate Burke Elexis Rice, a seventh grader at York Middle School, recently tried out the new Playaway audio books at the Kilgore Library. |
By Kate Burke
YORK — Reading. It’s not just for eyes anymore.
The Kilgore Library now has available best-selling books in MP3 digital audio format.
Amy Barr, Youth Services Director, has new Playaway Digital Audio books in the Juvenile and Young Adult audio book sections. Each Playaway MP3 player is dedicated to one title, say, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Library patrons can check out the Playaways like any book, with just a couple of things to remember: Patrons must provide their own earbuds or headsets, or purchase a set from the library for one dollar. Also, patrons must provide their own AAA battery, or buy one from the library for a dollar.
The library bought over 60 Playaways and expanded its collection of audio books on CD, with a Library Improvement grant facilitated by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Kilgore Memorial Library Foundation provided matching funds.
The Playaway is lightweight and compact, making audio books more portable than ever. The device is easy to use, and offers convenience with the ability to change the narrator speed, scan between chapters or within a single chapter, and to pause without having to start over.
Most of the titles currently available at Kilgore are juvenile and young adult selections. Barr says that some adult titles are available, but the library would like to get a feel for how adults respond to the units before investing in more titles.
Several young library patrons tried out the Playaway units recently. Elexis Rice, a York Middle School seventh grader, decided an episode of Meg Cabot’s Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls was a little young for her, but she likes the Playaway units.
“I’m a really big reader,” Elexis says. She prefers reading the old-fashioned way, by cracking open a book, but the Playaways are a good way to while away time on the school bus.
Brothers Paul and John Holmes agree. With bus rides up to 45 minutes a day, listening to a good book can make the journey more interesting.
Barr says that some popular titles, such as the Harry Potter books, are not available on Playaways because they are too long for the format. The library has them on CD, instead. And, she says, some sought-after books have not yet been released on Playaway, but patrons should let library staff know what titles they are interested in hearing on the portable devices.
Barr also wants to make patrons aware of another service recently begun. Kilgore Library patrons can download and listen to many books on their own computers or MP3 players.
To enable this, the library has subscribed to eAudiobooks, a downloadable digital audio book service from NetLibrary. eAudiobooks can be played on virtually any desktop or portable computer, and transferred to a variety of portable devices such as MP3 players.
Kilgore patrons can create an account at NetLibrary through the Kilgore Web site (http://www.yorklib.org/search/databases), using the bar code from their library cards. Patrons must download the “Media Center” platform to their own computers only once.
After that, the NetLibrary database can be searched, books “checked out” and downloaded, and transferred to portable devices. Barr says the service comes at no extra cost to library patrons. Library staff are ready to answer questions and help patrons get started with eAudiobooks.
NetLibrary is “continuously adding titles,” Barr says, and patrons should check back frequently to see what’s new.
“It’s a really nice place to start,” Barr says of the audio books on Playaway, CD and NetLibrary, “and we can expand.”
The Kilgore Library now has available best-selling books in MP3 digital audio format.
Amy Barr, Youth Services Director, has new Playaway Digital Audio books in the Juvenile and Young Adult audio book sections. Each Playaway MP3 player is dedicated to one title, say, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Library patrons can check out the Playaways like any book, with just a couple of things to remember: Patrons must provide their own earbuds or headsets, or purchase a set from the library for one dollar. Also, patrons must provide their own AAA battery, or buy one from the library for a dollar.
The library bought over 60 Playaways and expanded its collection of audio books on CD, with a Library Improvement grant facilitated by the Nebraska Library Commission. The Kilgore Memorial Library Foundation provided matching funds.
The Playaway is lightweight and compact, making audio books more portable than ever. The device is easy to use, and offers convenience with the ability to change the narrator speed, scan between chapters or within a single chapter, and to pause without having to start over.
Most of the titles currently available at Kilgore are juvenile and young adult selections. Barr says that some adult titles are available, but the library would like to get a feel for how adults respond to the units before investing in more titles.
Several young library patrons tried out the Playaway units recently. Elexis Rice, a York Middle School seventh grader, decided an episode of Meg Cabot’s Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls was a little young for her, but she likes the Playaway units.
“I’m a really big reader,” Elexis says. She prefers reading the old-fashioned way, by cracking open a book, but the Playaways are a good way to while away time on the school bus.
Brothers Paul and John Holmes agree. With bus rides up to 45 minutes a day, listening to a good book can make the journey more interesting.
Barr says that some popular titles, such as the Harry Potter books, are not available on Playaways because they are too long for the format. The library has them on CD, instead. And, she says, some sought-after books have not yet been released on Playaway, but patrons should let library staff know what titles they are interested in hearing on the portable devices.
Barr also wants to make patrons aware of another service recently begun. Kilgore Library patrons can download and listen to many books on their own computers or MP3 players.
To enable this, the library has subscribed to eAudiobooks, a downloadable digital audio book service from NetLibrary. eAudiobooks can be played on virtually any desktop or portable computer, and transferred to a variety of portable devices such as MP3 players.
Kilgore patrons can create an account at NetLibrary through the Kilgore Web site (http://www.yorklib.org/search/databases), using the bar code from their library cards. Patrons must download the “Media Center” platform to their own computers only once.
After that, the NetLibrary database can be searched, books “checked out” and downloaded, and transferred to portable devices. Barr says the service comes at no extra cost to library patrons. Library staff are ready to answer questions and help patrons get started with eAudiobooks.
NetLibrary is “continuously adding titles,” Barr says, and patrons should check back frequently to see what’s new.
“It’s a really nice place to start,” Barr says of the audio books on Playaway, CD and NetLibrary, “and we can expand.”
 |
||
| Overview |
Latest Videos:
Recent Photo Galleries:
Most Viewed Articles This Week:
For the record (787)
Rural residents want road improvements (681)
YORK sign to be refurbished (679)
For the record (787)
Rural residents want road improvements (681)
YORK sign to be refurbished (679)