[LM_NET] HIT: Audiobooks to MP3

[Katherine Starks <StarksK@OACSD.ORG>]

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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