Local library patrons have a smart new way to enjoy great books.
The
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County now offers audio books on a Playaway, a new device that's half the size of a deck of cards. Findaway World, who manufactures the Playaway, has extended a free 90-day trial at no cost to the Library.
For decades, busy minds have enjoyed books on tape or CD. But Rick Ryan, the East Region's Library Services Manager, points out several advantages the Playaway holds over old formats.
"An entire book is loaded on each device, so there are not multiple CDs or cassettes to keep track of and load throughout the listening time."
You can find more about borrowing Playaways
here.
A Playaway can go places that traditional audio players can't. Joggers can enjoy narration without skips; chemo and MRI patients can listen during long treatments. Large buttons and convenient features like auto-bookmark and speed control make the Playaway user-friendly. Durability is another plus.
"Because the content is digitally preloaded, the sound does not diminish with multiple playings," says Ryan.
Ryan is part of a team of Library staff who spearheaded the Playaway project. He pointed out that although the format is fairly new, it has been well received by the library community; 20,000 libraries now lend Playaways. Locally, about 100 titles are available at six Library locations: Main, Anderson, Clifton, Harrison, Madeira, and Monfort Heights.
According to the Public Library Data Service Statistical Report 2009, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County ranks twelfth in circulation among U.S. libraries, and downtown’s Main Library building is the busiest public library in the country.
Writer: Elena Stevenson
Sources: Rick Ryan, Library Services Manager, East; Emily Baute, Media Communications Specialist, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County