eAudio FAQs
See also: digital audiobooks from Overdrive...download them to your home PC!
Why has the library bought these
devices?
Books, whether printed or spoken, are
the heart and soul of what we do. And
circulating audiobooks on tape and CD
are extremely popular. eAudio is just
another way to "read" by listening. We
are confident that our audiobook
listeners will be interested in this new
development in listening technology. We
think you will welcome the opportunity
to explore this new format, just as you
have enjoyed our books on tape and CD.
It is important for us to experiment
with cutting edge services and products,
and be in on the ground floor as they
develop. This way we can continue to
insure that new technologies are adapted
to meet the needs of library users. This
pilot program will enable you to
experience what it's like to listen to a
form of MP3 audio on a dedicated device.
Then you can decide for yourself whether
or not you like it.
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Why would I want one?
- No more broken and garbled tapes,
no more cracked and scratched CDs, no
more melted packaging
- No messing with multiple tapes and
discs
- No more lugging around large
players and large containers. The
devices are smaller than a pack of
cards -- just slip into a shirt
pocket.
- No more skipping
- Easy controls Listen in your car
with cassette adapter or radio
transmitter
- Hot new titles available
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Will eAudio take
the place of audiobooks on tape and CD?
That's a good question. In the short
term we will operate in a world of both
"physical" and "electronic" audiobooks.
We will continue to buy books on
cassette and books on CD. In the near
future, we may purchase books on MP3 CD
as they become available. And we will
continue to investigate new technologies
like eAudio. We think that eventually
much of the content that we currently
buy as physical items will be purchased
as downloaded files. But there are a lot
of technical and legal issues to be
worked out before that happens on a
large scale. eAudio is the tip of the
incoming wave of new content delivery
models.
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How many eAudio
devices does the library have?
We have purchased 40 devices. We may buy
more if there is great demand.
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What titles are available on the
library's eAudio devices?
We purchase content for these devices
from
Audible.com. The available titles
that we choose from are the titles that
AudibleŽ has purchased the rights for --
currently AudibleŽ offers about 4500
audiobooks. We still need to purchase
audiobooks on CD and cassette to be able
to offer the full range of titles our
patrons ask us for. Basically, these
devices fill a niche for us. We
concentrate on:
- Popular titles that are in heavy
demand -- we can purchase multiple
copies without filling up our shelves
when demand falls off
- Titles that we don't purchase as
physical sets because the publisher
won't replace damaged or lost tapes or
CDs
- Titles that are only available as
abridgements, but are popular. We try
not to buy abridgements, preferring to
wait for an unabridged version.
However, there is demand for new
titles, and many people would rather
have a long abridgement than wait for
an unabridged version
- Superior unabridged titles that we
may own in another audio format, but
we know will be popular
- Titles that have been specifically
requested by our users
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Why are so many
Audible titles abridged?
AudibleŽ can only offer those titles
that they have purchased the rights for.
The traditional vendors of unabridged
physical sets like Books on Tape and
Recorded Books, have only sold AudibleŽ
rights to some of their content.
AudibleŽ is working to secure rights to
more unabridged content. We do try to
concentrate our purchases on unabridged
content, from ALL vendors.
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How are eAudio
devices circulated?
We lend you the device, a cassette adaptor for
listening in your car, and some
documentation in a handy little bag. The
title you requested is already loaded on
the device. You have to pick up the
device at our Circulation Desk and
return it there. Our Circulation Desk
staff will show you how to use it. You
will need your own headphones, or you
can purchase headphones at our
Circulation Desk for $3. When the
batteries die, you will have to replace them.
It's really easy!
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What are the
guidelines for checking out an eAudio
device?
- eAudio devices can only be
borrowed and returned to the
Circulation Desk at Memorial Hall
Library, Andover. They cannot be
returned in bookdrops or at other
libraries.
- eAudio devices circulate for three
weeks. They are not renewable. Late
readers incur a fine of $1 per day.
eAudio devices cannot be requested on
Interlibrary Loan.
- eAudio devices cannot be requested
through our web catalog, but they can
be reserved by completing the
eAudio Request
Form on this website or by filling
out a form at our Reference Desk.
Borrowers will be notified by phone or
email, and will have three days to
pick up the eAudio package at our
Circulation Desk.
- Borrowers will be asked to fill
out a survey to help us evaluate this
new service.
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Can I search for eAudio titles in
the library catalog?
No. You must search for available
titles on this web
page.
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Can I request an
eAudio device in the library catalog?
No. You must use the eAudio
Request Form on
this web page.
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Where can I buy eAudio devices and
titles and how much do they cost?
We circulate the AudibleŽ Otis and
Creative NOMADŽ MuVo™, MP3
players optimized to listen to content
from
Audible.com. We purchased both the
devices and the titles from AudibleŽ.
There are other MP3 players and
handhelds that are "AudibleŽ Ready". You
can find out about these devices, and
learn about listening plans and
purchasing the MuVo at
Audible's web site. We paid $100
each for the devices. The price for the
titles varies, but is cheaper than
buying the titles on cassette or CD.
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Can I bring in
my own device for you to load a title
on?
If you purchase a MuVo, or a
Windows/MAC iPod, we will be able to
register your
device on our library account and
download our content onto your device.
You can also use your device to purchase
content on your own personal AudibleŽ
account. Because of licensing issues, we
cannot load AudibleŽ content on handheld
computers. We cannot support all of the
devices listed on the Audible website
because of technical and staffing
issues.
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Can you load eAudio content onto my
MAC/Windows iPod?
Yes, we support both MAC and Windows
iPods. Be sure to let us know when you
request a title that you will be
bringing in your iPod for download. You
can tell us this in the "Any additional
instructions?" text box at the bottom of
the request page. A staff member will
contact you and let you know when you
can come in with your device to download
a title.
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Can I listen
to eAudio titles on other kinds of
devices?
You can only listen to the
library's eAudio titles on our library
Otis or MuVo players, or on your own personal
Otis, MuVo or iPod which has been registered
on our library account. This is because
unlike "normal" MP3 files which can be
played on almost any computer and many
portable devices, our eAudio titles are
copyright protected using special
encryption technology and only work on
devices registered on our library
account. If you purchase AudibleŽ titles
under your own account, you can listen
to them on your personal computer, on
your handheld computer, on your
registered AudibleŽ-Ready MP3 player, or
registered AudibleŽ-Ready PDA. You can
get a list of these devices on the
Audible web site.
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How do I use the
device with my automobile cassette
player?
We circulate the Otis and MuVo with a
cassette adaptor.
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How do I use
the device if I only have a CD player
(no cassette player) in my car?
You can use a wireless device (LinkIt/iRock)
to transmit the audio from the Otis
player to your car radio (FM). We have
several of these devices you can
checkout.
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What other electronic book formats
does the library offer?
We have purchased 10,000 electronic
books through
netLibrary.
You read these books on your computer,
not on a specialized device. Be sure to
check out our netLibrary titles!
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