Re: [LM_NET] HIT: Audiobooks to MP3 / Audible Info

[Anne-Marie Gordon <media.teatime@GMAIL.COM>]

Hi, folks.
After reading the Hit on various ways to checkout mp3 audiobooks to
students, I contacted Audible for information.  The response was: "At
this time, unfortunately, Audible has discontinued its services to all
libraries and schools for the foreseeable future. No new library or
school purchase orders will be accepted and no new accounts will be
created. Current library and school accounts having any remaining
account balance (cash, coupons or credits) will be able to draw down
all such balances through December 31, 2008; thereafter, all accounts
will be closed and any remaining balances forfeited."

The customer service rep went also wrote that any accounts open in the
future would be for individual use only.

So much for Audible!



On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 12:52 PM, Katherine Starks <StarksK@oacsd.org> wrote:
> Several people expressed interest in what others were doing to have audiobooks 
>available on checkoutable MP3 players, so here is a HIT of the responses I 
>received. Obviously the jury's still out on the best, most cost-effective, 
>copyright-good method:
>
> *I want to know anything you find out. My IT guy (who is usually the paragon of 
>copyright ethics) told me to take my library CD's of To Kill a Mockingbird, Secret 
>Life of Bees and other titles that need to be shared by resource students, and 
>upload them to iTunes.
>
> Once they're in iTunes, they can be downloaded to a student's mp3. That can't be 
>legal?
>
> *I you have an education account with Audible.com you can load a book on
> up to three platforms (ipod, computer, etc) at any one time.  I works
> wonderfully.  I can have three copies of the same book checked out at
> the same time.
>
> *We have our kids bring in their public library cards and download titles
> for free from the public library.  There is a limit of 8 concurrent
> downloads per title, tho.
>
> For classroom use, we use a jackbox with an MP3 player, and up to 4 kids
> can listen simultaneously with headphones.
>
> For larger groups, we connect a set of old computer speakers to the MP3
> player so an entire class can listen.
>
> *Audible is a complicated option.  You can only download to three machines, so if 
>you are circulating 10, it's tough to keep track.  It also needs to be converted 
>to the correct format for many machines.  I like their selection but not the 
>limitations.
>
> *How much do you pay for an MP3 player?  How much time does it take to
> download, catalog, and package the audio book?  I find the Playaways
> worth the $30-40 as the other alternative is very time intensive. Just
> my IMHO
>
> *Have you checked into www.netlibrary.com?  It's a service that enables users to 
>"check out" and download audiobooks in MP3 format for 3 weeks.  They seem to have 
>mainly Recorded Books materials.  I signed up for an account through my local 
>library - so they're free.  I somehow think they are now taking accounts directly 
>from the public.  So, this would be a way for each student to sign up for an 
>account and download a book for themselves.  After 3 weeks, the file no longer 
>plays.
>
> Some down-sides: they have a limited selection of titles - about 250 in the 
>children's section.  They also have a YA section.  The files come accross as one 
>title, so I have to remember my place and scroll through if I've listened to music 
>in between.  They are not compatible with iPods, because of the software they use.
>
> good luck!
>
> *My professor in Children's Lit downloads books from itunes for his ishuffles
> he loans out.
>
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-- 
Anne-Marie Gordon, NBCT
Library Media Specialist
Livonia Primary Library
Livonia, NY
agordon@livoniacsd.org
media.teatime@googlemail.com
Resources wiki:squareone.pbwiki.com
Webpage: http://classrooms.livoniacsd.org/agordon/
Blog: repurpose.edublogs.org

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