[Publib] Playaway audio books

[Julie Bauer]

Anne,

Loudoun County Public Library will start circulating
Playaways in the next few weeks.  I don't have most of
the information you are looking for, but if you email
me this summer I should be able to supply it.

The manufacturer tells us that the battery (AAA, I
think) will pretty much be used up when the book is
finished.  The cases have a space for an extra
battery.  We plan to send them out the door with a
fresh battery and a spare in the case.  Circ staff
will check the batteries when they are returned,
because you know some people will very politely put
the dead battery back in the case.

We've also purchased a quantity of earbuds.  People
checking out the playaways will be asked if they need
them and requested not to return them.  If they do,
we'll throw them away.

We will keep the Playaways behind the circ desk for
now and put dummy cases on a display.  They would be a
tempting target for theft, I think, and the cases are
very similar to CD book cases and there might be
confusion.

Unless people run over them with a SUV or run them
through the washing machine, they look pretty
indestructible.

We hope that patrons who don't like CDs but are not
comfortable with downloadables will like Playaways.  I
guess we'll just have to see!



--- Anne Feiler <annef at cityoflafayette.com> wrote:

> Please pardon the cross postings
> 
> Is anyone out there using Playaway audio books?
>
http://www.playawaydigital.com/whatisit/index_flash.aspx
>  If so, I have
> a few questions:
> 
> How have patrons reacted?
> How well do they hold up compared to audio books on
> CD or cassette?  (Or
> is it too soon to tell?)
> Do you supply batteries?  How long do they last?
> Where do you purchase them?  What kind of discount
> are you receiving?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Anne
> 
> Anne Feiler
> Head of Reference
> Lafayette Public Library
> 775 W. Baseline Road
> Lafayette, CO  80026
> annef at cityoflafayette.com
> 
> > _______________________________________________
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> 


Julie Bauer
Collection Development Librarian
Loudoun County Public Library
Leesburg, Virginia