[Web4lib] RE: free e-audiobooks

[don warner saklad]

Thank you !   I appreciate your interest.

On 3/7/09, Sharon Foster <fostersm1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> OverDrive has started to offer a handful of audiobooks in MP3 format
>  that are compatible with Apple products like the iPod, and they have
>  also introduced a version of OverDrive Media Console that runs on Mac
>  OSX.

It's not compatible with OS X of only a few years old. OverDrive
should be made compatible with operating systems that are a few years
old so it's more universal. Our public libraries should advocate for
more universal library services rather than for only people with the
latest and greatest computer operating systems. It appears to be a gap
in the technical knowledge of librarians responsible for ensuring the
greatest access to our public libraries' services.

On the other side of this is when OverDrive is presented by our public
libraries it should be presented as one of a compilation of free
audiobooks so that at that point of service people who can't access
one might try another.



>  I don't know the contractual details.
>
>  Sharon M. Foster, 91.7% Librarian
>  Speaker-to-Computers
>  http://www.vsa-software.com/mlsportfolio/
>
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>  On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 12:34 PM, Jesse Ephraim
>  <JEphraim at ci.southlake.tx.us> wrote:
>  >>Our Boston Public Library http://bpl.org
>  >>uses the OverDrive that isn't compatible with
>  >>OS X 10.3.9  So much for our public library
>  >>advocating for universal library services
>  >>across the many years of operating systems.
>  >
>  > The problem isn't with your library.  The problem is with Apple's
>  > proprietary formats and with publishers who don't want audiobooks made
>  > in that format.  At this point in time there are no services available
>  > to libraries that provide a decent selection of audiobooks in a format
>  > that Apple products can read.  NetLibrary is about to launch a set of
>  > 800 or so in the next few months, though, so that's a good step forward.
>  >
>  > Jesse Ephraim
>  >
>  > Youth Services Librarian
>  > Southlake Public Library
>  > 1400 Main St., Ste. 130
>  > Southlake, TX  76092
>  >
>  > Email:   jephraim at ci.southlake.tx.us
>  > Phone: (817) 748-8248
>  > FAX:    (817) 748-8250
>  > www.southlakelibrary.org
>  > uncommonly friendly service