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08/29/2005: Storytelling comes of Age in the Digital Download World....
"A new way to borrow audiobooks from the library involves no CDs, no car trips, no fines and no risk of being shushed.
Rather, public libraries from New York City to Alameda, Calif., are letting patrons download Tom Clancy techno-thrillers, Arabic tutorials and other titles to which they can listen on their computers or portable music players — all without leaving home.
Librarians say such offerings help libraries stay relevant in the digital age....
There’s still one big hitch, though: The leading library services offer Windows-friendly audiobook files that can’t be played on Apple Computer Inc.’s massively popular iPod player.
Also, many audiobooks can’t be burned to a CD, the format preferred by many car commuters.
Vendors such as OverDrive Inc. and OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc.’s NetLibrary have licensing deals with publishers and provide digital books using Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Media Audio format, which includes copyright protections designed to help audiobooks stand apart from the often lawless world of song swapp"
Courtesy of The Daily Herald.
Karen on 08.29.05 @ 11:04 AM CST
