[Michlib-l] What is the future of your audiobook on CD collection?

Wed Jul 12 18:46:35 EDT 2023

I hope no one minds if I stick my two cents in here:

I'm guessing the people who check out audiobooks on cd are a majority of
older adults that are (I say this with kindness and no judgment) either
reluctant to learn a new technology or intimidated by/resistant to digital
things. They also probably have (and I'm assuming here) older vehicles that
still have cd players in them and/or the equipment at home that supports
this older format. Lots of people have most assuredly moved on from
physical CDs with the advent of streaming, but I still get a question every
once in a blue moon about VHS! Shocking, I know. But it still happens.

I've assisted many older adults who have come into the library seeking help
with their tablets gifted to them by well-meaning children and family, and
they almost always say something to the effect of not having someone to
teach them at home and unwanted, uncomfortable overwhelm at the prospect of
learning AT ALL. There's a vulnerability in asking for help to learn
something, and even bigger one to ask a total stranger. It's always a
pleasure to help them because they often want to keep up with the advances
but they just didn't grow up with technology. Sometimes I think they're
afraid of making a mistake, appearing stupid, or causing some kind of harm
to the physical devices or software itself, and I love reassuring them that
that is not the case. I can't speak for anyone else, but my generation has
(and my experience has been) the advantage of growing up with technology
and the culture of independence to finagle with and figure things out
ourselves. This has in fact gotten me in trouble a few times because I like
to push buttons, ha. With aging adults, however, sometimes they just need
reassurance and coaxing to adopt new technologies (not that streaming is
really all that new anymore).

I'm also guessing Deb would absolutely LOVE to spend her budget on
something more impactful to her community. And I don't mean that audiobooks
on CD aren't impactful, because they mean something to the small minority
of people still using them. But I can imagine it would be so rewarding to
provide a new service or collection that would get heavier usage and
therefore largely change circulation stats dramatically.

I have to insist with fervor that this is an absolutely wonderful
opportunity to do something to encourage the ongoing and fearless
exploration of digital content. Maybe they just need hand-holding! Maybe
this means holding a quarterly program to introduce old and new
technologies in a safe and encouraging environment. Maybe this means
offering one-on-one appointments so they don't feel stupid in front of
other people.

On Wed, Jul 12, 2023 at 6:19 PM Winter, Donna via Michlib-l <
michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:

> Looking at our stats for June, e-audiobooks account for about 10% of our
> overall circulation, while books on cd are just 1%.
>
> Despite that fact, the people who check out the books on cd aren't all
> that interested in switching to downloadable. They still go out frequently
> enough that I don't think we need to get rid of them yet. It's a dying
> medium for  sure, so eventually they'll blip out like cassettes and vhs.
>
> <http://www.livoniapubliclibrary.org>
>
> *Donna Winter*
> Assistant Branch Librarian
> Livonia Public Library
> (734) 466-2675
> dwinter at livoniapubliclibrary.org
> *www.livoniapubliclibrary.org <http://www.livoniapubliclibrary.org>*
>
>   <https://www.facebook.com/livonialibrary/>
> <https://twitter.com/livonia_library>
> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC81D_yBDdwEXucKYYvCnXOQ>
>
> This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to
> which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged,
> confidential, and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable laws. If the
> reader of the message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or
> agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you
> are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
> communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
> communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and/or
> reply to this e-mail message. Thank you.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org> on behalf of Teresa Natzke
> via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 12, 2023 5:21 PM
> *To:* Deb Hemmye <dhemmye at hwoodslib.org>
> *Cc:* Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>; Sara Ault <sault at brandonlibrary.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Michlib-l] What is the future of your audiobook on CD
> collection?
>
> Just curious Deb?  Why so happy to get rid of them?
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From: *"Michlib-l" <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> *To: *"Sara Ault" <sault at brandonlibrary.org>
> *Cc: *"Michlib-l" <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> *Sent: *Wednesday, July 12, 2023 4:35:07 PM
> *Subject: *Re: [Michlib-l] What is the future of your audiobook on CD
> collection?
>
> What would I like to do with our adult Books on CD collection?  I would
> like to throw it in the trash and do a little happy dance.  That said,
> every time we check the circs, we discover that they are, in fact, still
> circulating.  Just this year we decided to discontinue ordering children's
> or YA books on CD and no one has said a thing.  At the same time we also
> heavily weeded our *adult* BoCD collection.  Within a week or two, we had
> an unhappy adult ask why we had gotten rid of all of our books on CD (she
> was obv not counting the three she was checking several out at that very
> moment).  So apparently the adults in my community still want and use them,
> but I am counting the days until I can repurpose that space!
>
> *Deb Hemmye (she, her, hers)*
> Library Director
> Huntington Woods Public Library
> 26415 Scotia Road
> Huntington Woods, MI  48070
> 248-543-9720, ext. 686
>
> ------------------------------
> *From: *"Sara Ault" <sault at brandonlibrary.org>
> *To: *"Michlib" <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> *Sent: *Tuesday, July 11, 2023 12:09:01 PM
> *Subject: *[Michlib-l] What is the future of your audiobook on CD
> collection?
>
> Our physical audiobooks are just sitting on the shelves while our
> downloadable offerings are circulating like mad.  It's gotten to the point
> of considering not funding that collection and putting money toward our
> digital offerings.  How has your circulation of these items been since
> Covid?
> What are your long term plans for this collection?
>
> Thanks,
> Sara
>
> --
> Sara Ault
> Circulation Manager & Adult Collection Development
> Brandon Township Public Library
> 304 South St. Ortonville, MI 48462
> 248-627-1460
>
> *ENGAGE **•** EDUCATE **•** ENRICH **•** EMPOWER*
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Michlib-l mailing list
> Michlib-l at mcls.org
>
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mail3.mcls.org_mailman_listinfo_michlib-2Dl&d=DwICAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=e6sAxXCJmykY2k1UijXWkmTzAl96Vq907WIJ-Knaxek&m=pysw1AKAXYpZT-TifoWJj129sqiXSpm_HYlMR19-1lo5-66e95O0Zz7Rs6Z_qx1p&s=VV9RmgLLEVBfk_GhRB4iagX-GCOR6auA9PkKxxt5w_E&e=
> _______________________________________________
> Michlib-l mailing list
> Michlib-l at mcls.org
> https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230712/7993cece/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Email signature TN (1).png
Type: image/png
Size: 78164 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230712/7993cece/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: LivoniaLibrary-150_448311fd-878c-427d-a2b3-a583dea86bcb.png
Type: image/png
Size: 7251 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230712/7993cece/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: SocialLink_Facebook_32x32_f4cd0f65-1d29-42e1-8c6b-fa4525a26a66.png
Type: image/png
Size: 365 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230712/7993cece/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: SocialLink_Twitter_32x32_88eae9ba-dbc6-4e96-8fbb-583ba4e951d4.png
Type: image/png
Size: 619 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230712/7993cece/attachment-0003.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: SocialLink_Youtube_32x32_aebcc362-2268-4807-a71b-51f1c09418fd.png
Type: image/png
Size: 817 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20230712/7993cece/attachment-0004.png>