Note: This is an edited text chat transcript from Session Two of the Day of the Digital Audio Book, an online conference held on February 16, 2006.

[Lisa from LibraryU] Hi everyone. Welcome to Session II in the Day of the Digital Audio Book. We'll be starting at 11:00 a.m. CST

[Lisa from LibraryU] For those of you wondering what the little yellow "r" means next to a participant. It means they are recording. You can record your session also. Just go to File and select "Record Presentation"

[Lisa from LibraryU] Everyone should now be seeing our agenda/outline for the day on your screen

[Tech Support] People have asked for the slides for today's session. All will be available, plus additional content through LibraryU - http://learning.libraryu.org. These full modules will be published in the next couple of weeks and will be even better and more interactive. A link to the slides will also be posted in the OPAL archives. For today's material, you can access all slides at: http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LULive_20060216.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002

[Lisa from LibraryU] Go ahead and type questions as you think of them, and I'll keep track of them and feed them to Lori and Tom in the Q & A times

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6298.html

[MaryBeth McWilliams] thanks, I always keep a hard copy of my LibraryU.

[Lisa from LibraryU] We will send a message to all participants when the interactive asynchronous modules are published on LibraryU

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6299.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6328.html

[vicky] are most audio books popular fiction, or is there a collection of classics available? If so, where do you find them?

[Lori Bell] Vicky, many of them are popular fiction

[Lori Bell] There are classics available

[Lori Bell] There is not much overlap between audio book vendors because each one works with different partners

[sue] Don't you think downloadable can bring in new patrons? How do you survey folks if they are not already library patrons?

[Lori Bell] You almost have to search each vendor to see what is available

[Lori Bell] Downloadable might reach people who never come to the library

[Lori Bell] You could do surveys through your newspaper, local businesses, schools, etc

[Heather Shlah] vicky - check out net library for non fic. They are "ebooks" (not audio)but they are downloadable onto various hand helds

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6421.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6330.html

[Tech Support] For today's material, you can access all slides at: http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LULive_20060216.html

[SharonO] Isn't one of the problems with the netLibrary/Recorded Books subscription is that it does not work with iPods? They are mp3 format only.

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6331.html

[vicky] what format is netLibrary books?

[Luca] WMA

[Luca] DRM protected WMA files

[Lisa from LibraryU] If your question does not get answered during the session today, we have an open Q & A session scheduled in this same room on February 28 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. CST

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6333.html

[Steve Sposato] Clarification: iPods do play mp3 files, as well as Apple's proprietary format.

[Lynn] How does the cost per title of this type of audio book compare to tradition audio tape and/or Cd books?

[Eric L] Correct, but they do not support the digital rights managed WMA files

[Lori Bell] Cost can be less if you are buying per title

[Lori Bell] Price on subscription plans varies depending on how much circulation you do

[sue] For NetLibrary

[Lori Bell] Sue, for netlibrary, pricing really boils down to how much circulation you get from your audio books compared to the price your library pays for the subscription

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6335.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6336.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6337.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6338.html

[LindaS] I really like the netLibrary package. Are they offering an Illinois consortia price or just a circulation price?

[Debbie Baaske] Some library systems in Illinois are doing a consortial agreement with NetLibrary

[Joanne] I would also be concerned about the right to privacy for our patrons if we were to allow a vendor access (for patron authentication) into our patron records. We would have to be sure that our information is protected.

[LindaS] Do you know which systems, Debbie?

[Debbie Baaske] I know PALS and NSLS are

[Lori Bell] PALS has done a group purchase

[MaryBeth McWilliams] i agree with the prices.

[Lori Bell] Debbie, will NSLS purchase of netlibrary be added to MyMediaMall?

[vicky] What is the MyMediaMall?

[Debbie Baaske] Lori...no...that wasn't something we could work out with NetLibrary

[Debbie Baaske] I'll be talking about MyMediaMall during the brown bag lunch but it's a consortium through Overdrive

[Lori Bell] Vicky, http://www.mymediamall.net

[Lori Bell] Tom, they will not do that with MyMediaMall

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6339.html

[Lisa from LibraryU] If you click on any of the links on this page, it will open a new browser window for you. You can just close it out to come back to the presentation materials

[Lynn] Who provides the audio books available from iPod? Just curious....

[LindaS] I was told iPod sells their own directly to the consumer.

[Lori Bell] Lynn, Audible.com provides books you can play on iPod. They do not have a library management model

[sue] Audible.com or the iTunes store

[Lori Bell] You have to check out content on a device to patrons which means you have to load it

[Lori Bell] A patron cannot just go to Audible.com and download the library's books

[Lori Bell] Audible.com is much more geared to the consumer than libraries

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6340.html

[Lynn] Lori, I don't quite understand your response above. Are you saying that a library can or cannot have an agreement with Audible.com?

[Lori Bell] They can have an agreement; however, you purchase the books and then you have to download the books on a device and loan out to the patron

[Lori Bell] They do not have a system where you can buy a book and allow the patron to go in and download it themselves

[Lynn] Thanks for clarification.

[Lori Bell] You have to download the book to a device and loan that to the patron

[Lori Bell] I hope this helps

[Lynn] Yes, it does. :-)

[Vickie] This format discussion is similar to what I've encountered with eBooks. Palm vs. Windows based PDAs. Different file structures...

[Lynn] I don't know that we want to add that layer to whole issue!

[Lisa from LibraryU] Retraction: It was just pointed out to me that a number of these links are not opening in a new browser window. You can just use the "back" arrow to get back. When these are published on LibraryU, a new browser window will open for links

[Judy Scheirer] I think they are working on it because you can purchase gift cards to go in and download so they get "cards" so you can go in and download audio books from audible.com at home

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6341.html

[Lori Bell] Judy, they don't seem very interested in working with libraries - they told us we could give patrons a "card" to download a book, but then that book is not available to anyone else as in the other vendors - it just sits on the recipient's computer

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6342.html

[Lori Bell] People want to go in when they want 24/7 and download a book without having to go to to the library to have it downloaded on a device for them

[Judy Scheirer] OK....

[Lori Bell] but Audible.com has more books than anyone else...and they will play on an iPod

[Lori Bell] I wish we could get them to work more with libraries

[Lisa from LibraryU] Stick with us everyone. When Tom is done we'll give away another PlayAway to someone in the room

[Lori Bell] In our consortium, we are not able to get statistics by individual library

[Lori Bell] So that is something to think about

[Lori Bell] The pricing is more advantageous in a consortia, so you can't always have everything

[Sharon Zuiderveld] Lori, I thought MyMediaMall would give us stats on those patrons in our library that have used the downloadable audios.

[sue] Michigan Library Consortium - we are able to get user stats for individual libraries for both NetLibrary and OverDrive

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6343.html

[Lori Bell] Sharon, we are working on that through RSA. There is an id for each checkout, but it is different than the card number

[Lori Bell] So we are still working on that through RSA

[Debbie Baaske] Sharon, Alliance joined as a whole, so the individual libraries can't get their own stats but the other libraries that have joined on their own do get their stats

[Lori Bell] MyMediaMall gives us stats overall - but not for each library = since we joined as a consortia and were able to get consortial pricing

[Sharon Zuiderveld] OK, thanks for the clarification.

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6344.html

[Lori Bell] I am working on that with RSA though - don't give up yet

[Stephanie Gerding] Has anyone used Overdrive's download station kiosk?

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6346.html

[Lori Bell] Sharon, able to join as a consortia for much cheaper than if each library had to pay on its own

[Lori Bell] I have not used it Stephanie - heard about it

[Lori Bell] Cost is $7500 per station

[Charlee Glinka] Also ask whether their MARC records can be manipulated/edited before you load to your OPAC.

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6348.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6422.html

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6349.html

[Vickie] For portable devices, I've had several moderately aged folks indicate that they like the idea, but detest ear plugs. Is anyone aware of any portable alternatives or less annoying earplugs?

[sue] The cost for the OverDrive Download Station is $7500 for the software license and the first year of maintenace for up to 5 stations

[Lori Bell] Sue, great, ok, thanks for the clarification

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6350.html

[Lori Bell] Vickie, they can buy the old fashioned head sets or earphones that work wit these

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6352.html

[Lori Bell] Some you can plug into a car stereo or stereo at home so you don't have to use ear plugs

[vicky] you could also get portable speakers that you can hook up to the device, then you can hear without headphones

[Lori Bell] yes

[Tom Peters] http://learning.libraryu.org/LULive/LUV002/6353.html

[vicky] anyone from RPLS out there?

[Lisa from LibraryU] Everyone: We will be sending a message to all participants from today with a link to the archives for these sessions. If you do not receive this message by late tomorrow, please email barnhart@gridcom.net. We used the email that you indicated when you registered and some people were not getting the email.

[Sharon Zuiderveld] How would we, as an individual library, discover the type of demand in our community?

[Lori Bell] Sharon, you could send a survey home through the schools - put something in the newspaper

[Kimberly Holman] Yes I'm Here

[Kimberly Holman] Thank you!

[Sharon Zuiderveld] Thanks, Tom. Yes, I have been doing that and many folks are very interested. I guess I'd like to shout it from the rooftop!

[LindaS] Hello Lisa at Library U - I have a few questions my library board asked about. What are other libraries offering to MAC users? What is happening with MAC industry to join the downloadable community? Something was mentioned earlier that Apple is going to an Intel operating system ... what does that mean for downloadable use? Thanks!

[Vickie] Are there any college libraries out there who are circulating audio books?

[Lori Bell] Vickie, college libraries have been very interested

[Lisa from LibraryU] Hi Linda, I think those questions can be answered better by Tom

[Lori Bell] I think that some are working on a grant

[Lori Bell] and group purchases

[Lori Bell] Our Alliance libraries are very interested - we are just waiting to hear from CARLI about authentication

[LindaS] Thanks, Tom.

[Rhonda] thank you!

[Lisa Powell Williams] Thank you. This has been helpful.