1	Digital Audio Book Update Lori Bell, Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center Tom Peters, TAP Information Services April 28, 2005
2	An Exciting, Evolving Market Fall 2004: Few vendors offered the option of downloadable digital audio books and none had a library management model January 2005: Several library vendors jumped into the marketplace with new circulation models 4 Major Mainstream Vendors in North America: Audible.com (No library circ model, but used by several library groups) OverDrive netLibrary/Recorded Books Tumblebooks
3	Audible.com http://www.audible.com Geared to consumer market Libraries can lend books to patrons on a device – Otis, Muvo, etc. Patrons cannot download on their own computer from library’s collection Libraries can only loan out as many copies at one time as they have Single library or consortia Audible hosts content Library must develop circulation model Audible proprietary format – for consumers will play on computer or compatible handheld device No library admin module
4	OverDrive http://www.overdrive.com Single libraries or consortia Overdrive creates website, hosts website and books Library card and pin required Single book, single user circulation model Library admin module for selection, stats Requires separate software Library pays for hosting and cost of books Option of buying unlimited access to bestselling books Libraries select books Books become part of the collection Windows Media Audio format –download to computer, or handheld device
5	netLibrary/Recorded Books http://www.netlibrary.com/ RecordedBooks/ Single library model netLibrary hosts books and website Authorization and password required Numerous (but not unlimited) simultaneous users No separate software or plug-in needed Libraries do not select books – get a preset, growing collection of 800+ books Price is based on public library’s circulation Subscription model – library pays for access each year Windows Media Audio format – listen on computer or handheld device
6	TumbleTalkingBooks http://www.tumblebooks.com/talkingbooks/home.asp Online, 24/7 audiobook library hosted by Tumble Single library pricing model – consortia can get discounts Subscription pricing based on number of titles libraries want to offer at any given time – for instance 100 books is $2000 Simultaneous, multi-user model Cannot check out – must be read online using flash player Library admin module for book selection
7	Tumble Book Library http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp Animated audiobooks for children Single library model Tumble hosts books and provides library link to website No library card and pin number required Multiple simultaneous users Must be read online; cannot be downloaded Uses Flash software Subscription pricing – access to all books in collection – one price, same price per library
8	Coming from TumbleBooks Tumblebooks also offers large print online e-books Tumble recently released a print/audio online ebook that will sync print and audio – especially for new readers, readers using English as a second language
9	Other DAB Sources Audio-Read: http://www.audio-read.com.au/home.htm Paperback Digital: http://www.paperbackdigital.com Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/audio/ TellTale Weekly: http://www.telltaleweekly.org/
10	DAB Industry Update April 2005: Macromedia, the makers of Flash, acquired by Adobe Systems April 2005: Tumble starts its “ReadAlongs” program, combining digital audio and e-books.
11	Selected DAB Library Programs ListenOhio: http://audible.nolanet.org/ ListenIllinois: http://www.listenillinois.org/ Lobe Library: http://www.lobelibrary.org Mid-Illinois Digital Talking Book Project: http://www.midtb.org CALIFA : http://www.califa.org/ Michigan Library Consortium: http://ebooks.mlcnet.org Unabridged: http://www.unabridged.info Tumble Book Libraries: http://www.ilkidszone.info netLibrary trial in June and July for Talking Book Centers: http://www.tapinformation.com/netlibrary.htm
12	Text-to-Speech (TTS) Loquendo: http://www.loquendo.com/en/index.htm includes laughing, crying, yawning, etc. Microsoft Longhorn OS: due in 2006; will include screen reader software With TTS any digital text can be converted to a digital audio book
13	Our Recommendations to the Digital Audio Book Industry Use the unlimited concurrent user model Let users transfer and burn anything Variable speed playback is a good thing Ultimately, content is king Solve the iPod impasse Make mainstream MP3 players accessible to all Accelerate the adoption and diffusion of TTS
14	For more information… Lori Bell, Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center Lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com 1-800-426-0709 Tom Peters, TAP Information Services tpeters@tapinformation.com 816-228-6406