KCLS Digital Audio Collection

I have been exploring the Overdrive and Listening Library collections, as well as the digital video collection. It's all very impressive and handy. I've downloaded some digital audio, and video, but I own an Ipod, so it has not been convenient for me to listen to the selections I've downloaded. Once I have the compatable mp3 player, I think I will begin to use the service more.

Patrons who have discovered it really love the service. I gave a demonstration to one of our Friends' groups and they were impressed and began to use our digital content.

I think the different formats are confusing though. It's difficult toconceptualize the differences between the digital books to read, from the digital books to listen to, from the digital players that patrons check out. I think we need more distinct icons separating them on the catalog. When searching from the home page, it is easier to keep a handle on the different formats.

I have not looked to see how other libraries are doing this yet, but I should.

I think that these digital books may very well eventually replace cd's and tapes. From a user's point of view, this is great. It's so much easier to carry a tiny device that doesn't skip when you move, than it is to lug around a cd player and those huge boxes of tapes or cd's.

However, from a professional point of view I have some questions. Once we start moving into digital content, libraries no longer own that content. I worry about public libraries becoming dependant for content on corporations who own the digital material. We will simply be renting content on behalf of our patrons, and we will have no control over what that content is.

I lament that libraries were not on the cutting edge of the digital revolution and didn't think to create their own digital content cooperatives or companies. I know that academic libraries have done this to some extent with serials, I think it could have been done with digital audio as well.

Public Libraries seem to be lagging in this area, and I think they need to catch up soon. PLA should be taking the lead on this, rather than accepting so many large donations from big corporations to keep PLA's leaders placated.