InfoTech: DCPL First To Offer MP3 Audio Downloads
Michael Rogers and Raya Kuzyk -- Library Journal, 6/26/2008
- New York, Cleveland, King County and others to follow
- Downloads compatible with the iPod® and other MP3 players, most cell phones
- Demos at American Library Association Conference
The District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) yesterday became the nation’s first library to offer audiobooks as MP3 downloads, announced OverDrive, the vendor supplying the service (see LJ’s earlier related coverage).
The new digital rights management (DRM)–free format, called OverDrive MP3 Audiobook, is compatible with Apple iPod® and thousands of other MP3 players—including those from Creative, Sony, Samsung, Rio, and SanDisk—as well as most cell phones. OverDrive will demonstrate the service at the ALA conference in Anaheim, CA, at Booth #1280.
Before downloading the borrowed MP3 files, library users must first install OverDrive’s free Media Console version 3.0 software, which supports transfer of MP3 files to iPod®, iPhone™, and iPod® Touch and includes a Burn Wizard feature for creating standard audio CDs from downloads.
The initial OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks catalog for public libraries complements OverDrive’s existing catalog of some 20,000 DRM–protected digital audiobooks and includes both adult and children’s titles. Among the participating publishers are Books In Motion, Blackstone Audio, L.A. Theatre Works, Gildan Media, Audio Realms, and CSA Word.
Other libraries slated to offer MP3 downloads through OverDrive are The New York Public Library, the Cleveland Public Library, the King County Library System (WA), and the Hamilton Public Library (Ontario). OverDrive estimates that “hundreds” more will follow by end of year.
Check the LJ 2008 ALA Annual Conference page for more live coverage
