The Library has purchased a few new audiobooks from PlayAway. As you know the Library has audiobooks on cassette, cd, and MP3 discs and it also has over a 1000 downloadable audiobooks from Netlibrary. This new product is a preloaded audio book for people who want to listen to a whole audiobook without the problems of downloading. Playaway's audiobooks aren't designed for digital-media mavens with iPods who are accustomed to downloading content off the Net. They're pocket-size and preloaded for people who just want to press Play and go.
Smaller than an iPod, the Playaway is so darn cute you want to chuck it under its little plastic chin. But the tiny audiobook system has plenty of other advantages over MP3 players, books on tape or CDs. It's far easier to use -- nothing to download, no CDs or cassettes to lug around, no need for a separate player. It comes preloaded with one book and runs on one AAA battery ; all you have to do is press "play," pop in the ear buds and listen. There are titles for all interests, from the 9/11 Commission report to "The Da Vinci Code" to "Getting to Yes."
There's even a button that allows you to slow down or speed up the narrator's voice (hours of fun!) and another to change the reader's pitch and tone. Technophobes of the world, take heart: Who needs a clunky old iPod?
There's even a button that allows you to slow down or speed up the narrator's voice (hours of fun!) and another to change the reader's pitch and tone. Technophobes of the world, take heart: Who needs a clunky old iPod?
Right now we only have 5 items and they are housed with the MP3 cds. We are purchasing more and we will continue if they are popular. However, this is a relatively new publisher and they only have 200 titles on hand. With these new little players, the patron will need to supply their own headphones and their own triple a battery.
sue
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