Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007  ------Before these types of services were introduced in thein introduced servicesthesetypeswere of Before Digital audiobooks are works of fiction, nonfiction, NetLibrary, and OverDrive, Audible, as such Services, and weaknesses, which will be explored in this which will be explored report.and weaknesses, distribution on delivered was content audio years, few past media (e.g., wax cylinders, LP records, eight-track tapes, audiocassettes, CDs) anotherthat machine, required sup playback. for user, end the by or librarythe by either plied thesevia delivered audiobooks cover not does report This older media. What Are We Talking About? Talking We What Are This report focuses on digital audiobook systems for li braries, library consortia, and other institutional custom depthsome digitalin examines It ers. servicesaudiobook that can be or purchased leased. It also looks briefly at a online digital free few audiobook sources. poetry, and drama primarily listened to, rather than read visually. They are digital files, as opposed to analogre cordings. A digital audiobook may be narratedproduct text-to-speechsynthetic by a be a may hu it or reader, man computervia made software. the of Most services vended mentioned in this report currently offer human-narrated digital audiobooks. that offer digital audiobooks via downloading from the Web have generated much interest exam for from Playaway, exist. distributionmodels viable other libraries, but ple, itsdelivers digital audiobooks on self-con preloaded, tained portable playback devices. TumbleTalkingBooks, on the other hand, streams its content theover Internet. Downloading, streaming, and preloaded playback devices itsstrengthsdistributionhas viable Each methods.all are digital audiobooks are available legitimatelydigital available audiobooks are on the Web.

------Now that tens of millions Americans have that Americanshave Now tensmillions of 1

igital audiobooks are becoming popular with li brary users. There are many possible reasons for this newfound popularity, which will be explored Chapter 1 Chapter

People People often listen to their favorite repeat The direct-to-consumer market for downloadable digi downloadable for market direct-to-consumer The it can give its through users what thebeyond is available circulates library a if Certainly, market. direct-to-consumer digital audiobooks, users can avoid some out-of-pocket expenses, but that fact alone may not sustain such a ser vice, especially now that an increasing number of free listen to more than a few favorite audiobooks more than end once. Therefore, users may turn to their libraries for digital audiobooks they will use only once, lar in because particu a library can offer them a selection broader, deeper of content without a direct monetary Nevertheless, charge. any library or library consortium consider ing launching a digital audiobook service must ask what ies may emerge as major suppliers of digital audiobooks in the United States, or they may become minor in the players digital audiobook market. niche edly, which may be why they tend to purchase this con tent directly. I suspect, however, that not many people Digital part audiobooks are of this content rush. tal music is booming; in however, the case of digital au obtainedin be will many how clear yet not is it diobooks, dividually and how many will be supplied by institutions. such as the Online retail stores and Audible iTunes Store librar years, thefew next Over individuals. to directly sell mand for audiobooks may be part of the larger demand for content for portable media have become players. amazingly widespread. These Portable MP3 devices play ers, for example, were the hottest gift item holidays. 2005 during the these gadgets, the compelling contentscramble for is on. D throughout this report. One possible reason is that de Introduction  Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 ■ audiobooks: successofdigital tothe tors contribute fac Several form. paperback in especially books, printed ofcontent. types other compared and 10 percent to 32 percent forfor nonfiction garnered 58percentmaining 10percent. ofsales, Fiction abridged re the for sales, content non-book and percent, 36 for total content of percent 54 for accounted tent completed before 2006 sales data was were reportavailable.) (This 2006. in happened have may that fact, audiocassettesas second-placethe distribution method. In surpass downloadingsoonwill thatpredict reasonable to is it rising, areaudiobooks downloadabledigital of sales 2005. in sales of percent 16 to decline—down sharp in are 2002, recentlyas percentas represented60 nearlywhichsales, 45 percent in 2003, and 63 percent in 2004.” Audiocassette 2002, revenuein ofpercent represented 35 CDsparison, formatsales(measuredofcentdollar volume). by com In per 74 upmade salesresults, CD2005 overview, the “In dominantformat.the Accordingbesurvey to tinue the to audiobooksales, compared topercent6 in2004. CDs con year.Downloadable previous digital audiobooks the represented over9percent increaseof percent 4.7 a 2005, in million $871 estimated an reached States United the in audiobooks of sales found summer past this Association Publishers Audio the by conducted survey industry An Why Are AudiobooksSoPopular? a for useful longer be time. will points decision of outline the that however, hope, I dated. become quickly will details the fair, balanced, and as accurate of 2006, late but obviously been made to ensure that the information in this report is has attempt Every decision. informed an make librarians ians to implement a audiobook digital but service, to help andindividuals. institutions and Audible—sell toboth Playawayexample, companies—for other while stitutions, via downloading. OverDrive and NetLibrary sell only to in 2006—OverDrive and NetLibrary—offer digital audiobooks r ad uies epe tae etniey While eyes their extensively.are road,on the ears can their be listening travel people, business and ers driv truck as such people, many addition, In asleep. falling before bed in relax and line, in dog, wait exercise, the walk I when audiobooks to listen I book. printed readvisuallya downand sit to than diobook au an to listen to situations find to easier much is it that report can reader,I avid an As lifestyles. active fit: Lifestyle Digital audiobooks are eminently but portable, so are con unabridged that stated also report survey The librar convince to not is report this of purpose The market late in library largest the vendorsto two The 2 eas adoaste ae ae elnn and declining are sales audiocassette Because Audiobooks fit well into today’s busy, today’s into well fit Audiobooks 3 ------■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Narration as art form: art as Narration phaseiscompleted. that until things other on work can user however,the begun, is phase each Once audiobook. the of size the and connection Internet the of speed the on depending device can take from playback several minutes portable to several a hours, to audiobooks: it transferring the and Internet, from getting it downloading audiobook, for an Choosing needed time Limited from homes. their conveniently device playback and a to audiobook it an transfer download the can from Users Internet. content downloading with comfortable Convenience: experience. audio enjoyable compelling, a for audiobooks digital broadcasts are declining, so more people may look to radio of variety and overallquality the that seems It States. United the in increase to continues length average commute The work. to who commutes long have people to applies same The audiobook. an to hud o b udrsiae. irre big to of gether collections bring content substantial and support Libraries underestimated. be not should materials without physicallybrary visiting the library required: visit library No have process. mastered that on a playbackportable device, users convey that they audiobooks digital playing By process. artechie cane, slightly a of aura the has still it easier, coming be is Internet the from content digital downloading process: convoluted slightly a of Mastery be classicalmusic orfunk. work of literature or latest bodice the ripper. It could classic a be could It to. listening you’re what knows Confidentiality: apparel accessories. styling and vibrant colors, the devices almost become sleek their With cool. as seen still are players most MP3 consciousness, collective our of the background into recedes eventually often device nological tech success wildly a Although audiobooks. digital of popularity to the playback devicesmay contribute Coolnessfactor: devices. portable on mix the to videos, music and programs, such tent, pictures, as shows,television motion radio con of types other adding toward is trend the tion, addi In devices. playback portable their on loaded many people have audiobooks both and music that digital likely seems it users, from content. feedback on Based entertainment and educational, cultural, mix: Media the of experience. listening quality overall the in role key a plays book audio an of narrator The book. a to performance of Audiobooks fit well with other types of types other with well fit Audiobooks More and more people are becoming are people more and More hn h erus r i, o one no in, are earbuds the When The coolness factor of the portable portable the of factor coolness The Audiobooks add the element the add Audiobooks h jy f cesn li accessing of joy The Although Although 4 ------

Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007  ------Currently there 6 Other findings pertinent 8 7

Compilers of a recent audiobook survey reported that reported survey audiobook recent a of Compilers Downloads and other new media formats for audio books are up significantly since a similar surveywas Patron demand for library servicesdigitalfor audiobook demand Patron such as to initiatives, vir other Compared networked They are designed primarily for lithe, nimble-fingered, nimble-fingered, lithe, for primarily designed are They teenagers. eagle-eyed If you wear bifocals, or have a touch of arthritis, or have low vision (or are legally usable. very not are devices these blind), Digital rights face-off: management is an uneasy détente between users of digital tent con and the rights holders, who insist on develop ing and deploying digital rights management (DRM) systems. The Wikipedia article on DRM abbrevi thus:“Digital (generally Rights Management defines it ated to DRM) is any of several technologies used by control to publishers (or copyright access to owners) and usage of digital data (such as software, music, movies) and hardware, handling usage restrictions associated with a specific instance of a digitalwork.” The article goes on to succinctly summarize, among or and consumers individual many why things,other ganizations that attempt to protect consumer rights and interests either are wary of or downright hostile DRM systems. many toward nearly nearly 1 in 4 U.S. citizens (24.6 percent) had listened to an audiobook in the past year. to the demographics of digital audiobook users include the following: ■ The Demographics of Digital The Demographics of Digital Audiobook Users Before launching a digital audiobook service, you want to try will to understand the demographics of the cur ser your in digital audiobooks potentialof and users rent vice population. tendsstrongimmediate.be and to consortiuma When of libraries in Oregon started a digital audiobook service, the librarians were somewhat surprised by the immedi ately strong circulation levels. a years, few last the in libraries by launched reference, tual through itself sell practically will service audiobook digital viral marketing (which in older, simpler times digi new we library’s a for called market core The mouth”). of “word tal audiobook service—those who enjoy who audiobooks, who and Internet, the from content download to how know entertain and communication, information, portable value the discover quickly library’s digital ment appliances—will work librarians from reports Anecdotal service. audiobook ing at libraries and library consortia that have launched digital audiobook services often contain observations of market. core the by uptake quick ■

------The primary competi Not much content is 5 : The current format wars in the audio- on your main computer—your “mother ship” —or burn burn —or ship” “mother computer—your main your on the using), are you the vendor by allowed (if CDs to it I real future, think, lies in portable devices. playback suc the popular, amazingly are players MP3 Although flaw. design fundamental a masks devices these of cess Pope’s Pope’s “An Essay on Criticism”). MP3, MP4, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, and a host of proprietary interesting filecocktail-partyfor make madden and chat formats ing experiences when trying to find one device that about everything. just can play everyone: for designed not devices playback Portable Although to to it listen audiobooks digital is possible streaming audio, and when SpiralFrog launches this it year, will offer no-cost downloads and transfers to portable devices. playback Format wars content one remind realm of the of Alexanderwords (from tread” to fear angels where in rush “Fools Pope: can add to the direct-to-consumer experience—other than cost-avoidance—remains an Digital music services, such as the new open and question. offer SpiralFrog, such listeninglow-cost options that the cost-avoidance that attracts many people to disappearing.Bothbe to braries seems services offer li to listening free allows Napster options. listening free able, economically viable way to provide audio access audio provide to way viable economically able, to all texts. What values do libraries add? serviceslibrary-baseddigitalaudiobook by faced tion services. audiobook digital direct-to-consumer be may institutionalotherproviders and libraries value What seems to be underrepresented in many collections. The cost of producing human-narrated audiobooks that mastermean collectioninclude no may ever will narrateddigitalof millions thousandsor of hundreds audiobooks. Synthetic text-to-speed audio renditions of books, could however, eventually offer an accept Miniscule master collections: available to what is currently compared yet, available collectionsmaster The books. electronic or printed in institutiontheservethat vendors audiobook most of al market contain a mixture of public domain works and frontlist bestsellers. Nonfiction in particular services at a cost far below the go-it-alone cost for each individual. One downside has been the incon of venience having to visit the library to retrieve the how thatvisit, make to need not do Patronscontent. digital to download audiobooks. ever, ■ ■ ■ ■ There Must Be a Downside There There are many reasons for caution as libraries begin ex ploring digital audiobook systems and services:  Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ more audiobooksperyear). or ten to listen who those (i.e., listeners voracious are as librarian, a of advice the seek to likely more listeners who listen to only one audiobook a year are Audiobook librarians. from and friends from dations and recommenes, such as Web lists, bestseller sites, their next use “listen,” sourcof they a information forvariety searching are listeners audiobook When com pared to38% in2001.” as library, the from borrowed are to listened “Respondents indicated 51.8% of audiobooks that are 4.9 hoursperweek.” of average an books to listen listeners “Audiobook suchasexercising. tasks, while doingother to to do do while commuting, and an activity activity reasons included a recommendation from a friend, an an trying audiobook for the firsttime. Other common forreasongiven common most the was trip long ing The need for listening during entertaining an upcom personal audioplayer.” a to downloadingfor Internet the on available made program, similar or broadcast radio a of digital recording a podcast, a downloaded have they in dicated player MP3 an with respondents the of “27.2% MP3player.”book for ontheir listening cated havethey downloaded a filedigital of an audio indi player,31.3% MP3 an own that people the “Of ly tohave anMP3playerolderlisteners.” than MP3 portable player. an “As younger are listeners more expected, like own they that reported percent 34.8 audiobooks, to listen who respondents the Of to audiobooks. listens that population the among balancegender good is There 70percent ofnonlisteners. less than compared period, to sametime least onebookinthe book in pastthe 12 havemonths also visually read at audio an to listened have who people of percent 94 and read more books printed nonlisteners. than Over nonlisteners, than ucation and tend they to purchase Listeners to audiobooks tend to have more formal ed surveys. income than has been reported in previous consumer age household (many with children) and has a higher aver than larger slightly a in lives user typical The months.” children have last 12 to an audiobook listened in their the indicated 17 and 4 of ages the between dren chil with “Approximatelylisteners audiobook of half was 44.7 years. survey the in participated who listeners book audio of age median The thought. previously than younger be to seems listener audiobook typical The younger listeners. attracting is industry audiobook the indicator an as finding this interprets APA The 2001. in conducted ------cal object (hardback,cal object paperback, or e-book device) for the physi a hold to impossible or uncomfortable it find often arms and wrists, hands, their in issues strength and ity dexter other and arthritis with Peoplereading. visual to impediment major a is book a Forholding readers,many ten overlooked, requirement is the ability to hold the text. of but important, Another book. the on attention visual concentrate to opportunity the and source, light a book, Toa needs readvisually,person a limitations. physical er both people with visual and impairments people includes with oth group This audiobooks. digital of users heavy very be can patrons print-impaired and low-vision, Blind, Impaired inGeneral Blind, Low-Vision, andthePrint listeners. voracious and crowd”; hands happy are hands “busy the and slow and reluctant readers; “soiled the hands crowd”; learners English-language impaired; print otherwise are or vision, low have blind, are who people include books dition, individual users often have favorite narrators. noises (e.g., a slamming door, a gunshot) and music. In ad minimum of nonvoice embellishments, such as background seemstion toprefer unabridged digitalaudiobooks a with popula this years,three past the in low-visionusers and state Bookshare.org,library, sources. a and other system, library regional a consortium, library a personal list of a sources, which may include developed a local library, have users these of Many audiobooks. ital dig of sources other for looking are users print-impaired device. playback portable user-friendly own its designed has NLS because years several over out rolled until be will program service The 2008. audiobook digital its begin not will ever, how NLS, people. blind by used audiobooks recreational the of many of distribution the in participates and ates cre Congress, of Library the of division a .loc.gov/nls), (www NLS or Handicapped, Physically and Blind the for Service Library National The subpopulation. specific this visualreading requires. that periods extended www.bookshare.org Bookshare www.loc.gov/nls and PhysicallyHandicapped fortheBlind Service National Library Specific key demographic groups for digital audio digital for groups demographic key Specific ae o aedtl edak rm oes f blind of dozens from feedback anecdotal on Based serve that libraries of network nationwide Therea is 9 As a result, many blind, low-vision, and low-vision, blind, many result, a As

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Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 

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Audible sells and leases spoken spoken leases and sells Audible 12

13 Audible www.audible.com NetLibrary www.oclc.org/audiobooks The Web site of Audible proudly proclaims that Audible is thatAudible proclaims proudly Audible of site Web The “the leading of provider spoken entertainment and infor Internet.”the on mation digital audio content primarily to individuals, but it has also been selling to libraries and library-related organiza digitalaudiobooks collectionItsmasterof years. tionsfor contains more than fourteen it thousand the largest of titles, the five making providers that are thefocus of this report. Major Vendors of Audiobooks Major Vendors for Libraries Libraries and other institutions—such as the corporations, military, and penal of varietywide a sources of digitallease have audiobooks institutions—that purchase or publish from directly lease or purchase can They content. This aggregators. content business-to-business from or ers report, focuses however, primarily on the five companies that seem to been have the major suppliers of digital au librarylibrariesand to diobooks consortia Some 2006. in market, librarythe with exclusively deal suppliers these of digitalotherlease to or othersaudiobooks sell while also institutions to individuals. or directly Audible are happy hands” crowd—knitters, crocheters, tatters, crocheters, and crowd—knitters, hands” happy are designed, is well device others. If playback the audiobook knitting in although source, light a need even not do they stitches. dropped multiple to lead may thedark Listeners Voracious Some users of digital audiobook services are users. intensive For example, I looked at the typical usage of the Unabridged digital audiobook service (which nate) that I users in serves blind nine and states low-vision coordi (California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, active For and Ohio, New Oregon, Texas). us Hampshire, ers (those who checked out at least one title checked during the audiobooks digital of number average the month), be ranged 2006 of months nine first the for month per out download that users most Assuming 3.90. and tween 3.32 assuming and out, check they audiobooks the to listen and that hours, ten about is audiobook an of length average the and 33 between spends user active average the that means audiobooks. digital to listening month each hours 39

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The Diary One example is 10 found online at The Intersect Digital Webb Webb and Meyer concluded that, although reading Webb and Webb Meyer shared anecdotal evidence that the Slow and reluctant readers of all ages can also benefit also can ages all of readers reluctant and Slow The “Busy Hands Are Happy Hands” etc. Crowd: Knitters, Crocheters, Tatters, other for tasks hands to when use one’s easier It is much visually. reading when than audiobook digital a to listening theto hands “busy appealing audiobooks fact makes This If you try to visually read a book while engaged in some activity that leaves your hands dirty or greasy, you will soil the book. Anyone who does “soiled hands” such as farmers, auto work— mechanics, gardeners, and bakers— and wants to read at the same time will find audiobooks attractive. ally. The ally. Web site Califone contains summary statements from conducted research over the past few decades. This supports research the general thesis that listening to an learning. and literacy student overall assists audiobook The Soiled Hands Crowd: Farmers, Gardeners, Auto Mechanics, Bakers, etc. copy of the further book for reading. in tandem experts using audiobooks long advocated have with visual reading, many experts now advocate solo lis e-book or book with printed no (i.e., audiobooks to tening visu read to readers reluctant motivate to way a as nearby) reluctant readers responded better to the public-domain audiobooks than they did to public-domain e-books. The printeda motivationget to student more generated audio tant in readers grades K–12. of Opal Whiteley Library, a project of the University of Oregon intersect.uoregon.edu). (http:// It includes a thisbuilt around public domain e-book that can be easily learning module integrated and used by K–12 teachers. to the pronunciation. They can easily pause and resume the text. Meyer, Nadean and digitalWebb from Lynne audiobooks. in their October 2006 presentation at Internet@Schools West, reported on how e-books and audiobooks can be used together or separately to slow encourage and reluc econd-Language Learners, Slow Learners, Second-Language Readers and Reluctant Readers, Digital audiobooks can be a boon for theythelistenelectronic as text watch can They learners. second-language The Intersect http://intersect.uoregon.edu site Califone Web www.califone.com/research.php 10 Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 approximately fifty Spanish-language books. Including languages isbeingconsidered.books inother books. Spanish-language fifty approximately contain does it but English, in primarily is collection The technology. Flash using reader/listener the to streamed audiobooks hundred five approximately of collection has a It libraries. school and public for primarily geared service audiobook streaming a is TumbleTalkingBooks services. audiobook digital two offers TumbleBooks.com Tumble Read-Alongs TumbleTalkingBooks and package. complete andsellthe container the into content the inject publisher: print-on-paper a of that to similar is model distribution and sales Playaway the sense, this In device. playback portable a onto book audio digital downloading the preloading by content of transferring and hassles the through cut It retro. most the conceptually is Playaway market, library American Of the major suppliers of audiobook content to North the Playaway diobook service. au digital downloadable its launched it 2004, November In media. and content of types other into out branched OverDrive also began as an e-book company and has since OverDrive stream. suppliers arecontent beingaddedtothe other but content, of supplier major its been has Books service. During the firsttwo years audiobook ofthe service, Recorded digital downloadable a launched NetLibrary 2005, early In (OCLC). Center Library the Computer Online by acquired was it and century, the of start-up turn the ter a as 1990s af soon difficulties financial into late ran It company. e-book the in emerged NetLibrary NetLibrary audiobookspurchased from Audible.circulate the must purchase library playbackso the devices in order to devices, playback portable onto it transfer and content to downloadpatrons not allowsoffer a library model that interest.Audibledoes of titles simplypurchasesof consortium copies or library The libraries. to service diobook www.tumblebooks.com/talkingbooks TumbleTalkingBooks andTumble Read-Alongs www.playawaydigital.com Playaway www.overdrive.com/audiobooks OverDrive Audible offers a relatively simple and affordable au affordable and simple relatively a offers Audible

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Free Sources ofDigitalAudiobooks well asdozensoffree Web as sites. vendors, smaller many are there libraries, for books audio digital of vendors major five these to addition In Other Vendors TumbleTalkingBooksservice. tothe subscription collection. Read-Alongs the in available currently are titles 65 Approximately lation. popu English-as-a-second-language large a serve that ies librar in popular are Read-Alongs Tumble that reported TumbleBooks from Zevy Ron 2006, 7, August on author the with conversation telephone a fly. In the on size font or the reader/listener both. Furthermore, can change the audio, the just text, written the just use to whether cide de can reader/listener The narration. audio with along text written the present books These collection. Alongs Velveteen Rabbit, The Wind in the Willows Velveteen the in Wind Rabbit,The includes two or more recordings of several titles (e.g., catalog that recordings.Because audio completed 342 of charge public-domainaudiobooks. free-of- ad-free, source, open providing to dedicated tion as describes a itself completely volunteer-driven LibriVoxorganiza domain.” public the in books of liberation cal “acousti the to attests, slogan organizational its as ed, dedicat is effort distributed-volunteer not-for-profit, This LibriVox probable services. demandfor the these determine States. Each library needs to assess its user community to United the in domain public the in works older are tions collec master these in available Mosttitles system. the of prove to be morea purchase labor-intensive than or lease may and challenging is mission organizational library’s a into services and resources free these Integrating below. listed are sources these of few A audiobooks. digital of purchase or lease, there are also many free online sources sys may libraries tems and that and consortia services library audiobook digital on focuses report this Although www.ibiblio.org ibiblio www.archive.org The InternetArchive www.librivox.org LibriVox ubeok.o as ofr te ube Read- Tumble the offers also TumbleBooks.com As of early November 2006, LibriVox had a catalog catalog a had LibriVox 2006, November early of As 14 They come bundled with a with bundled come They 15 ), the number the ), The ------

Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 11 - - - - - The purpose of the project, articulated 21 Some of the audiobooks available on this site The service is designed blind for and low-vision 22 23 This is not a merely semantic question. How your li has been reading Visual in the for so ascendant long The Spoken Alexandria Project www.spokenalex.org Tiflolibros www.tiflolibros.com.ar/mp3/mp3.htm Podiobooks.com www.podiobooks.com Audio Books Project Project Gutenberg’s www.gutenberg.org/audio brarians answer may reveal the they value using on place reveal may brariansanswer audiobooks. Is it a “fluff” activity that helps commuters and theshut-ins while away hours, or is it a vital, vibrant arguments strong information-transfer activity?are There librarianship.on both and beyond sides, across the Part of problem respect. no gets reading that auditory The Tiflolibros master collection of approximately 9,000 titles contains both e-books and digital audiobooks MP3 (in format). Most of the offerings are in Spanish, but Tiflolibros has small collectionsand of content other languages, in English such as Portuguese, Italian,French. and users. The site contains both public domain works and still protectedworks by copyright in the United States. Is Listening to an Audiobook Reading? As you consider a digital audiobook service, to members staff library other and it librarians for beneficial may be interactwill users how discuss with the are content. How we to understand the interaction between a user and an audiobook? Do users “listen” to audiobooks, or are they the“reading” book? dio book downloads, startingdio book downloads, at 25 cents each via PayPal or Bitpass.” on its Web site, is thus stated, “The Spoken Alexandria Project is creating a free library of spoken word record mod theand in consisting domain classics ings, public of ern works (with permission). AAC, Ogg and Vorbis, MP3 free for and download audiobooks available redistri[are] bution.” pur be must some but charge, of free downloaded be can dollars. a few chased for Tiflolibros

------All of these works 20 Podiobooks.com encour 18 16 Althoughthis of theemphasis 19 17 These digital audiobooks are doled out one chapter Different Different volunteers perform different tasks. The Spoken Alexandria Project The Spoken Alexandria Project is affiliated withTelltale which, Weekly, according to Telltale’s Web site, provides au Vorbis Ogg and AAC, MP3, DRM-free and “unabridged Project Gutenberg, the Gutenberg, of Project also grandfather has e-books, a approx offers It audiobooks. of collection growing but small imately eighty and audiobooks human-narrated hundreds of computer-generated audiobooks. in are Most States. in the United domain in the public are languages. other of smattering a is there but English, is right with your world.” withyour right is portableonto content audio narratedgetting on is service MP3 players, there is no prohibition against listening to these chapters and episodes on your main computer or burning themeven to a CD. Books Project Audio Project Gutenberg’s as serials—“by the numbers,” as the wily Victorians said. The FAQ page on the Podiobooks Web site have me) twobesides least at offers (well, folks rationale, “Many this thatfound this delivery method podiobooks much makes easier to read than a print book, e-book or to or were, even you where remember to audio have never You book. take your book with you. It shows up, you listen, and all with the authors. at a time, but each listener can determine the frequency of the dole—one chapter per day, one chapter per week, and so on. This distribution method back harkens to the Victorian publishing practice of releasing books initially Podiobooks.com offers serialized Podiobooks.com audiobooks as podcasts free of charge. The master collection of seventy-five approximately titles is comprised of audiobooks that have been donated by the authors. ages listeners to give donations in response to this con tent, and it to promises half share of the donationsgross keep the entire project moving forward. Last but not least, least, not but Last forward. moving project entire the keep pro to book completed a listen” “proof listeners volunteer vide some quality assurance. The Internet Archive (www and ibiblio (www.ibiblio.org) .archive.org/index.php) host the files. Podiobooks.com Volunteer readers read chapters of books, poems, or short or poems, books, of chapters read readers Volunteer Book works. coordinators organize a group of readers to complete a book. Moderators help the readers and book cata who volunteers The project. a complete coordinators metadatacalled are coordi works completedlog LibriVox nators. There are also some volunteer administrators to of unique titles is a little smaller. Some of the audio re solo efforts, are cordings while others duets are or group narrations. Most of the audiobooks are offered in both formats. Vorbis MP3 and Ogg 12 Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 in any file format and with any DRM scheme—including DRM any with and format file any in audiobook digital any worlds, possible all of best the In The iPodImpasse ofreading are ways types created equal.damental both ences are and distinct have many differences, in some fun reading. I also shall assume that, although the two experi readingsual reading validare and auditory forms of both program. tothe listening actively not is viewer the time the of most but backgroundnoise, of type a is It television. with interact people many way the to applies situation same The composition. musical the to actively listen not did they but earshot, waswithin Music became background music. For many people, music seat. back a took listening century, 20th the of half last the during Unfortunately, highly object. deep, information structured a with interacts one as listening active in engage to ability the develop to practice and It time takes audiobooks. and players MP3 portable of age the in “quiet”comeback a staging is that art long-lost a be may Listening locution. and Ls—listening two the emphasize to claimed three also that school the a of teach heard never have to I Rs. purport still schools most least whole, at a as society and employers, future parents, ers, teach for concern of source constant a remains charges their to Rs three the impart systems school most which reading reading.than auditory the success Although with visual teaching time more much spends system cational page. printed the across down and up and forth and back jumps eye the as often as not frequency—certainly great with used is it doubt I feature, nice a is this Although again. sage pas a to listen and seconds fifteen back jump to listener reader/ the allows that feature a provide systems book audio digital many information, sensory in take ear the my suspicion. but I cannot quickly “glance back” with my ear to confirm just heard “school” or “screw,” may context help, and the wondercan I I if audiobook, an wordto listen I As again. a in take and second a of fraction a even back go to ear for the by.comes it as ring brass There opportunity no is a rapid succession of split-second iterations of looking. The mind makes sense of the printed words on the page by bug across the page, jumping back and forth, up and down. eyeacrossprint.marcheyedancesThejitterthe the of a statelyinvolve anot does page printed senses.Readinga obviousdifference processestwo the that involve different from the process ofdifferent listeningvery isto pagetext beinga read—beyondat looking of process the the that is For the purposes of this report, I shall assume that vi edu formal the that is problem this of part Another and eye the how between difference this of Because auditory the grab to has hand, other ear, The the on ------difficult or impossible to download content from certain certain from content download to impossible or difficult very is it edge, an competition their give to wish not do and competitive are and Apple and both device, because playback portable a to content trans the then ferring system, operating full a running computer a personal to files audiobook downloading first users’ on including tional, Audible, OverDrive,rely and NetLibrary) institu and direct-to-consumer (both services audiobook rub: corporate because most current downloadable digital players. MP3 portable called commonly currently areforwhat sales U.S. percentof approximately87.3 has devices playback portable of line iPod Apple reluctant to allow hardware and software knockoffs that that knockoffs software and hardware allow to reluctant been has it IIc, Apple the of days early the From wares. its of distributor sole the being of strategy business held not be ridiculously easy to hack and share. hadto reassure content their suppliers content would the they type, this audiobookToof services. launch service a downloadable digital their for format this use NetLibrary and OverDrive both why reason one be may which use, of dustry being fairly effective in preventing unauthorized format. It has gained a reputation in the filedigital content in WMA the developed Microsoft Microsoft. and Apple The iPod impasse is caused in part by competition between the iPodImpasse? Who IsResponsiblefor others. the over share market significant gains scheme format/DRM file particular one if money of lots lose or gain to stand that corporations the between schemes—and DRM and file formats competing wagedwarbeing between a in ers owners of playbackportable devices are innocent bystand larger and more musiclucrative digital market. Individual much the to hostage held being is market audiobook tal digi the sense, a In playback. for devices iPod Apple to easily transfer not the does but running system operating computers Windows personal to easily downloads NetLibrary, and OverDrive both by used content, Audio) playback devices. tain operating systems and transfer the content to certain cer running computers personal to sources audiobook esnl optr crety n s worldwide. use in currently computers personal the of percent 97.5 approximately onto loaded are vors playback devices. of plethora a is there and use, in are schemes DRM and formats file of variety wide A ideal. this near nowhere is situation current Unfortunately,the system. operating or zone, manufacturer,world the of regardless device, back play any on playable be course—would of all, at DRM no Another cause of the iPod impasse is Apple’s long- Apple’s is impasse iPod the of cause Another Media (Windows WMA protected specific, be To The various Microsoft system Windowsfla operating

25 Herein lies the the lies Herein 24 The ------Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 13

------(November 29, 2005). (November New York Times New York dible.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes dible.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes (accessed October 2006). 30, “A–Z Catalog,” Audible Web site, www.audible.com/adbl/ store/catalog.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&Type=entire (ac cessed October 30, 2006). “About TumbleTalkingBooks,” TumbleBooks.com site, Web www.tumblebooks.com/talkingbooks/about.asp (ac 7, 2006). cessed November TechSource Blog, TechSource Sep. 13, 2006, www.techsource.ala.org/ blog/2006/09/spiralfrog-and-the-gyres-of-history.html (ac 7, 2006). cessed November “Digital Rights site,Wikipedia Management,” Web http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management (acces- 7, 2006). sed November Private e-mail communication with a source close to the service, October 9, 2006. Association Publishers “Audio Association, Publishers Audio Major Consumer Survey Increase Releases and Announces in Audiobook Usage,” Sep. 12, 2006, www.audiopub.org/ files/public/2006ConsumerSurveyCOMPLETEFINAL.pdf (accessed October 30, 2006). National Library Service for Handicapped, the “Digital Talking Blind Books: Progress to and Date,” Physically www.loc.gov/nls/technical/dtbprogress/prologue.html 7, 2006). (accessed November Lynne Webb and Nadean Meyer, “, Audiobooks, E- Books, and More: Empowering Reading Library,” through presentation, Your Internet@Schools West, held conjunctionMonterey, with Internet LibrarianConference, in OctoberCalifornia, 23, 2006. Califone Web site, www.califone.com/research.php cessed October 30, 2006). (ac Audible Web site, www.audible.com/adbl/store/aboutAu If SpiralFrog and other competitors to the iTunes Eric A. Taub, “Music Players Lists,” Topping and Game Consoles Are Continues to Grow; Shows 4.7% Increase in Sales,” Sep. www.audiopub.org/files/public/APASalesSurvey 2006, 12, ResultsFactSheet2006COMPLETE.pdf (accessed October 30, 2006). Ibid. For example, the Arbitron service estimates that the av erage commute time nationwide increased 13.8 between percent 1990 and 2000 (from Commute “Average Time,” Arbitron Web site, 14, 2006]). [accessed November travel.asp www.arbitron.com/national_radio/ Tom Peters, “SpiralFrog and the Gyres of History,” ALA Audio Audio Publishers Association, Publishing “Audio Industry 6. 7. 8. 9. 1. 3. 4. 5. 2. 13. 14. 10. 11. 12. tected WMA fileformat. According to SpiralFrog’sWeb site (www.spiralfrog.com/about), the service is currently in betawill debut in the and quarter first of 2007. logjam current the break may they successful, prove Store impasse. called the iPod Notes

------26 There There have been some recent developments in the There is clearly a demand among the user populations populations user the among demand a clearly is There Although the current situation is lamentable, librar Both Both OverDrive and NetLibrary decided to use pro Store. Store. Though, with the name of “SpiralFrog,” it sounds twenty-of couple a by start-upco-founded a company like somethings,fact,in thehas it theof some of backing ma jor music companies in the world, such as the . SpiralFrog will deliver its content in pro that must be paid for progress on the iPod impasse front. impasse iPod the on progress for paid be must that digital thatmusic business, however, some provide hope. forces Apple has dominated the digital downloadable sec its music marshalling be may finally competition the but tor, is SpiralFrog instance, For monopoly. virtualthat break to a new service that competes directly with Apple’s iTunes of of many libraries for digital audiobooks. Some libraries, may decide to however, serve the greater long-term good frustra the accepting and audiobooks digital boycotting by to men of populations—not their user tion segments from price the receive—as may they feedback vociferous the tion market market is not huge. As a result, the nonparticipation the in of makers decision big the by ignored be may libraries huge and rapidly growing digital media market (music, books, movies, TV shows, etc.). Even if a did message get signifi a through,the have librariesnot of might concern cant salutary effect on decisions about the interoperabil ity of this market. vote with their pocketbooks. Refusing to digital a launch audiobook service send a message would develop and to Apple, Microsoft, and other corporations that the cur mar digitalaudiobook The unacceptable. is situation rent ket, is however, miniscule compared to the digital music market, and the library portion of the digital audiobook amount of compelling digital audiobook content, and to be be to and content, audiobook digital compelling of amount the and while service format an audiobook to launch able NetLibrary and both OverDrive raging, still are wars DRM files. WMA protected use to decision business the made rectifynothingto do other thancan it users end and ians tected WMA files, knowing that iPods portable popular were the most andthose files iPods that would not play were and NetLibrary probably OverDrive device. playback to vendors content and publishers by encouraged strongly use protected WMA filesbecause the ofthreat wide-scale an acceptable garner To be and theft lessened. loss would their iPod devices. As a business strategy, it has been very been has it strategy, business a As devices. iPod their successful, at least in the short term. It was a successful short-term strategy with Apple’s line of ap only computers, have too, flavors system operating Apple the today but proximately a 5 percent share worldwide of the personal computer operating system market. will compete with its own brands. In the language of the industrial age, Apple seems to be striving for a vertical monopoly in the direct-to-consumer downloadable audio- content business. People go to the iTunes Store to pur chase iTunes content, then download it and play it on 14 Library Technology Reports www.techsource.ala.org January—February 2007 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. _Books_Project (accessedNovember_Books_Project 7,2006). www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:The_Audio site, Web Gutenberg AudioProject The Project,” Books “Gutenberg: tober 30,2006). Oc- (accessed www.podiobooks.com/about.php site, Web Podiobooks.com Stuff,” ‘n’ Questions Asked “Frequently ember 7,2006). Nov-(accessed .com/podiobooks/search.php?showall=true “Title Listings,” Podiobooks.com Web site, www.podiobooks 2006). www 7, site, November (accessed Web .librivox.org/volunteer-for-librivox LibriVox LibriVox,” for “Volunteering 7, 2006). November (accessed .librivox.org/searchable-catalog www site, Web LibriVox Catalog,” LibriVox the “Search 2006). 30, October (accessed www.librivox.org LibriVox Website,

26. 25. 23. 22. 21. 24.

November 6,2006). (accessed report.aspx?qprid=2&qptimeframe=M&qpsp=93 2006,” October, for http://marketshare.hitslink.com/ MarketShareWeb site, Share Market System “Operating (accessed November 7,2006). www.extremedap.com/article2/0,1895,1711754,00.asp site, Web ExtremeDAP 87%,” Falls--to ShareMarket “iPod .wininsider.com/news/?2248 (accessed November 7, 2006). “WindowsMarketShare Rises,”WinInsider Webwww site, (accessed November 7,2006). www.tiflolibros.com.ar/mp3/mp3.htm Tiflolibros site, Web “Catálogo Libros MP3 en formato Excel,” downloaded from 30,2006). .org (accessedOctober www.spokenalex Web site, Project Alexandria Spoken The November 7,2006). TelltaleWeekly (accessed Web www.telltaleweekly.org site,