 | MVLC, NOBLE, and NMRLS Members Meet for Downloadable Audiobooks Demonstration and Discussion - September 30, 2005 at Reading Public Library
By Greg Pronevitz |
We were pleased to host 50 attendees met for presentations, questions and answers, and a discussion about downloadable audiobooks. This meeting was a follow up to a discussion among staff members from MVLC, NOBLE, NMRLS, and our mutual member libraries.
Interest in providing downloadable audiobooks is very high. We invited representatives and customers who use the two vendors who are making the most impact in libraries: Recorded Books/NetLibrary and Overdrive - Digital Library Reserve. Vendor representatives made presentations, provided online demonstrations, and answered member questions about different options and pricing. Each vendor has a unique product. The uniqueness runs from collection size, scope, and simultaneous user license availability to pricing models.
Speakers
Vendor Presentations:
Recorded Books/NetLibrary - Jim Petersen, Vice President, Library Development
Overdrive - Digital Library Reserve - Michael Shontz, Account Executive
User Presentations:
Barbara Bailey, Welles-Turner Memorial Library, Glastonbury CT - Recorded Books
Laurie Lessner, SAILS Library Network, Middleborough, MA - Overdrive
Discussion on next steps for NMRLS, MVLC, and NOBLE members
40 attendees stayed for this discussion and posed questions and discussed issues related to a regional/network project to provide downloadable audiobook services. The discussion spawned as many questions as it answered. We will pose these questions to the vendors.
Questions and Issues:
- Should this be an implementation by networks, region, or individual libraries?
- What are the per library costs? Is there an advantage to a group of libraries purchasing together through a network or region? Cost/benefits of each model?
- Which vendor has the titles we want?
- What is the best way to define the value of each collection, e.g., best sellers, high circulation?
- Which publishers do the vendors have?
- Which publishers offer unlimited simultaneous users?
- Can we see holdings lists from each vendor?
Networks
- What are the direct and indirect costs to networks in providing MARC records for these titles?
- Defining a local library user by barcode or residence?
Funding/Costs:
- NMRLS would have liked to help with start up costs. However, negotiations to improve delivery services have prevented this effort..
- Supplemental deposit collection service grants to small public libraries that serve under 25,000 may help if the interlibrary loan availability question can be resolved.
- Libraries are likely to bear ongoing costs for collection development.
Other Factors:
- Selection criteria and decision making for Overdrive model
- Ability to download from home
- iPod compatibility
- CD burning capability
- Might there be a model using iTunes or Audible.com?
If you would like to be involved in a discussion to work toward a group purchase of downloadable audiobooks, or if you have suggestions for other vendors/methods of using downloadable audiobooks, please send a note to greg@nmrls.org.
