Carol Stream library adds new dimension of audio books
Audio literature has moved a long way from books on tapes and CDs.
The newest offerings from the Carol Stream Library are digital Playaways.
The library has about 50 of the digital audio books in circulation so far. Patrons just have to pop in their own AAA battery and headphones, although the library also sells earbuds for $1.
The Playaways require no downloading: Each digital player has a specific book already loaded. It also includes the normal play, forward and rewind buttons, along with functions that allow for bookmarking.
"It looks almost like an iPod," said Julie Blackwell, assistant library director. "We just put them out and right away they started flying off the shelves."
The library so far has several adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction offerings, such as "The Memory Keeper's Daughter," by Kim Edwards, "The Kite Runner," by Khaled Hosseini, and "Water for Elephants," by Sara Gruen.
Pam Leffler, head of adult services for the library, said the collection has just started growing.
"We've introduced them to people who've been looking for other audio material," she said. "The people we've done that to have seemed interested."
Leffler said the library's patrons traditionally love audio books, and the tapes and CDs have been popular. The Playaways came to the library's attention a few years back, but Leffler said she held off buying them right away.
"We didn't jump on the bandwagon right away because we wanted to see how they panned out," she said.
Carol Stream already offers an option of downloadable audio books online, but Leffler said the Playaways are much easier to handle.
The library will potentially increase the collection, which right now has been acquired for between $30 and $75 a book.
"The children's department is looking to acquire them for the younger age group as well," Leffler said.
The library also is looking for feedback on which new titles to buy.
For more information, visit the library at 616 Hiawatha Drive, cslibrary.org or call (630) 653-0755.