As many know, Recorded Books has revamped their downloadable audio book program, called One Click, and the Green Mountain Library Consortium has obtained state-level pricing for the program.
Please read the information below and consider whether or not you would be interested in participating in the Recorded Books downloadable audio book program beginning July 1, 2009, and let Stephanie Chase know of your interest by email at schase[at]stowelibrary.org.
Currently, Recorded Books is only allowing public libraries access to this program. The GMLC is therefore offering access to its public library members at an annual cost approximately equal to your current Listen Up! Vermont annual fee. So, for example, if you pay $300 to Listen Up! Vermont, you can add Recorded Books for another $300, making the annual fee $600 total for both programs.
More participation will equal lower costs for all libraries, so it is our hope that libraries participating in this program will be able to pay less than their Listen Up! fee.
We know it is a tough time for most of us to consider adding an extra service into our budgets, but it is also an excellent time to capitalize on the renewed interest in libraries and the services we provide.
It is also an incredible savings for nearly any participating library to join in at the state level, with even the largest libraries likely to be able to offer both OverDrive and Recorded Books to their patrons for less than the price of licensing Recorded Books individually.
Just as with OverDrive, where your annual fee allows you access to a ollection worth nearly $50,000, your annual fee to the Recorded Books program gives you access to an amazing collection at a fraction of the individual library cost.
Recorded Books has provided core title lists for the adult and children’s/YA collections; please contact Stephanie Chase at schase[at]stowelibrary.org if you would like the lists emailed to you as an attachment.
Important Questions:
1. Can public, school, and academic libraries participate?
Unfortunately, only publics can. Due to Recorded Books’ contract with OCLC, who provides the service, the GMLC pricing is only available to *public* libraries. Schools and academic libraries must go directly through OCLC.
We may be able to make the program available to schools is there is significant statewide interest from schools and competitive pricing from OCLC.
2. Do I have to currently be a GMLC member to participate?
For this introductory year, no. Libraries wishing to test out downloadable audio may choose to begin with the Recorded Books service.
However, current Listen Up! Vermont members may not withdraw from Listen Up! Vermont to participate only in the Recorded Books program. All libraries participating in the Recorded Books program will need to begin to participate in the Listen Up! Vermont downloadable audio book program through OverDrive by July 1, 2010. It is the goal of the GMLC to offer these two services as one package no later than the 2011 membership year, which will reduce the overall individual cost for member libraries.
3. What is available in the collection?
The Recorded Books collection is made up of over 2,000 titles for adults and children, of which approximately 800 are iPod compatible. All of the titles in the core collection are multi-user, meaning multiple people can “check out” and listen to the title at the same time. 20 new titles (15 for adults and 5 for YA/children), chosen by Recorded Books, are added each month.
Currently, Pimsleur language and Modern Scholar titles are available to purchase as one copy-one user titles, and are not included in the core list.
4. How is the Recorded Books program different than the OverDrive program?
At first glance, Recorded Books seems a better deal, due to the availability of iPod compatible titles and the multi-user access/no holds; a majority of our Listen Up! Vermont collection is one title/one user, just like your physical library.
This is possible because the two services function on entirely different models. With OverDrive, much like your physical library, the GMLC chooses which titles to purchase and “owns” the titles. The amount of titles purchased in a given year depends on the budget, but the GMLC, if things continue as they are, will be able to buy titles and add to the collection. Even if the GMLC stopped purchasing titles, the titles we currently own would remain available. Like owning your house, the collection will continue to grow.
With Recorded Books, we are essentially leasing access to a collection made available by Recorded Books. This is why the selection is so good. If the GMLC is unable to raise the total budget required, the entire program will disappear. Like renting your house, once you “move out,” you do not have access to anything.
Both models have their advantages and their drawbacks. This is why most larger systems offer patrons access to both models, and why the GMLC would offer both models.
5. Is there overlap between the two services?
No. Recorded Books makes available only titles they have published; OverDrive makes available titles from a large number of publishers, which does not, obviously, include Recorded Books.
6. How will my patrons access this service?
As with Listen Up!, patrons should be able to access the collection using only their patron barcode or patron number. Patrons will also have to download the appropriate software.
7. Will I be able to get statistics for my library?
At this time, we can only collect statistics for the Consortium as a whole, and not for individual libraries.
Please do not hesitate to contact the GMLC with any further questions you may have, or to let us know of your firm interest. Rest assured that the GMLC is working with Joe Levy, the Recorded Books representative that many of you know, on this project.
