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

Wed Jul 12 18:49:18 EDT 2023

I think something to consider, from an Archivist/Librarian's perspective, it that while CDs are getting less usage, a not-insignificant amount of that comes from planned obsolence in the tech field (not having cd drive in computers and cars & the extreme emphasis on streaming). Unlike cassettes and VHS, which are actually physically dying out, CDs (& DVDS) are extremely shelf-stable. The original expectation for the life of a CD/DVD is at least 100 years.

We are also seeing a crisis in the streaming/archiving sphere right now (with HBO and Disney being a biggest problem) of large companies (owner and/or hosting) just deleting content that they no longer wish to have on their server. If there are not physical copies available, do they cease to exist?
On top of this is the extremely high cost of digital materials on limited terms. The e-audiobook you purchased for your library might disappear, but the CD could still be on your shelf.

Another way to look at it is like Vinyl, what is old becomes new again as trends rise and fall. Young people are smart and will see the benefits of having physical copies of their content and that can't be arbitrarily taken away.

Obviously, we look a cost and space, but make sure you consider that weeding out a large amount of CDs you already own may negatively impact your community. Maybe not largely in the next year, but maybe down the line.

And just as a note, I do use Libby for ebooks & e-audiobooks all the time, but I have also went a bought a physical copy of a book I read on Libby because I knew I wanted to have access to it in the future.

Best,
Rachel

__________________________

Rachel Smith

Adult Services Librarian/Archivist

Roseville Public Library

My working day may not be your working day. Please do not feel obligated to reply to this email outside of your normal working hours.

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[cid:ba59a861-785c-4969-b2db-54a06d869998]

________________________________
From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org> on behalf of Winter, Donna via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 6:16 PM
To: Deb Hemmye <dhemmye at hwoodslib.org>; Teresa Natzke <tnatzke at franklin.lib.mi.us>
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?

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.

[cid:LivoniaLibrary-150_448311fd-878c-427d-a2b3-a583dea86bcb.png]<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>

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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?

[cid:e23a305d7c2d11bafcb6b27a57738ca2fa9e9d3a at zimbra]

________________________________
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

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