[Michlib-l] Kids Audio Formats Compilation

Fri Oct 25 17:04:51 EDT 2024

Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for all the replies--they have been very helpful! I got some
requests to share what I heard, so I've attached the full responses in a
word document, and included the Cliff's Notes version below for those
getting the digest.
Thanks!
Rebecca

*Allegan District Library*

   - Vox books
   - checked out a lot
   - standardized replacement cost ($50/book)
   - chargers stay at circulation desk, charge before reshelving. We have
   stickers on the books asking patrons not to charge it at home.
   - two books that broke quickly, replaced for free
   - Cataloging records are available

*St. Clair County Library Systems*

   - Way back (2012?) we briefly had playaways but they did not circulate
   well.

*Baldwin Library*

   - Vox books & Wonderbooks
   - Vox holds up better
   - When the book dies, we buy a replacement book, and glue the player
   onto the new book.
   - Both have nice/substantial/diverse catalog of titles, carry different
   titles than each other; patrons don't have preference of vox/wonderbook so
   we buy both
   - Vox books only sold through Baker and Taylor.
   - Playaways circulate well here
   - Decided against Tonies or Yotos for now

*Jackson District Library*

   - Vox and Wonderbooks
   - circulate well.
   - don't shelve very well.
   - We use tubs and bins where we can set the books front edge down and
   the spine facing up.

*Buchanan District Library*

   - Wonderbooks and Voxbooks
   - very popular.
   - started with just picture books, but have gotten requests for chapter
   books
   - The audio players hold up well
   - don't need to be charged very often.
   - Hard to shelve. We have a shelf that you can add dividers slotted into
   the shelf itself, so we've got them about six inches apart and that helps
   hold the books up.
   - The books themselves wear out faster because they don't close all the
   way, book damage isn't under warranty. We added "do not put in drop box,
   return inside" stickers on them to help protect them.
   - Playaway often has a deal if you buy $1000 or more in Wonderbooks or
   Playaways, you get a percentage off.

*T.A. Cutler Memorial Library*

   - VOX books.
   - very popular
   - electronics hold up well, book wears like any other book
   - don't send a chargers with patrons
   - we check the charge when they're returned. If they play, they're
   reshelved; if they lag or won't power on, we charge them for a few hours,
   lasts multiple circulations
   - awkward on the shelf, we use more dividers.
   - The only "horror" is trying to explain to a parent whose child checked
   out a few of them that are now misplaced that they're $40+ apiece to
   replace.
   - Playaways didn't circulate
   - Bad experience with Playaway tablets

*Muskegon Library*

   - I would love to buy Vox/Wonderbooks, but am wary about cost and how to
   know if I’m getting the ‘right’ titles.
   - I looked into Tonies at one point and gave up because I’m almost
   positive they require an account and my brain broke at how that would work
   circulating to patrons.

*Brighton District Library*

   - Whazoodles from Playaway
   - Brand new, so no data/experience yet
   - alternative to Tonies/Yotos, small, fit in a case about the size of a
   Launchpad case.
   - https://www.playaway.com/our-products/whazoodle/all

*Roseville Public Library*
*Tonies:*

   - Can create an educator account with the company for a discount (link
   here <https://us.tonies.com/pages/teacher-and-military-discount>)
   - Amazon or Target frequently have pretty good deals.
   - We circulate a box individually and then the figures in sets of
   threes.
   - stored in plastic containers secured by locks.
   - takes time to sync each figure with each box but then they can be used
   without a wifi connection.

Little Tikes Story Dream Machine
<https://www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-Story-Dream-Machine/dp/B0BN5G4G31/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.L8td6FZ3eE79Aw25v1xrn6FcmXXLDVQzjBgEj-f_jBUKN9len0IFpABvnk__KaEpoKUZLjhXIq2ifUcaHM9sPmPfMKsLocAasAbPQPBgx6v3jafIYHsE76_Jx7swVydo0GkRLjuYoDhoeCv165ijBpu1iO0VAxSE23f1m1d3oS_6Cd4D9qIuWyr0VWHRuiBOXaI8dOVyDyPT1jcMGMJBPsZu9IMXqMPGHctp6PIDuC8cF0XVj0iIxF4JzHcwa_sVeq3LmzxvGzmrpNu2tCWX4KBE9HTRYspa9pIgAHpv5io.-ru4TpG9GBwRbM9-3Bfo_7zbrcJW8zaFIvARIlYmkWI&dib_tag=se&hvadid=676113260146&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9016822&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=18106151779617421619&hvtargid=kwd-2227718110235&hydadcr=26243_13465345&keywords=little+tikes+dream+machine+story&qid=1729635528&sr=8-2>
:

   - Can go through Amazon, no discounting options from Little Tikes

*Vox Books and Wonderbooks:*

   - we place them in plastic hanging bags that go up on a metal revolving
   rack.
   - pretty popular for us.
   - Every certain number of books will come with a charger. We charge them
   after they get returned, but patrons can charge them at home with a general
   UBC charging cable.

*Oxford Public Library*

   - Vox books.
   - very popular
   - We have them in the large purple bags that hang.
   - Used to interfile with book/cd kits but now they're separate--patrons
   were looking specifically for Vox. All new additions to the media kit
   collection are Vox now, phasing out CDs
   -  Hold up very well. (only one issue in several years)
   - library pages charge them when the books are returned. We do sometimes
   have patrons bring one up that is dead and so then we plug it in and charge
   it.

*White Lake Community Library*

   - VOX books & Wonderbooks
   - extremely popular
   - I vastly prefer the Wonderbooks to the Vox books for the following
   reasons: sound quality, battery life, ease of operation, durability, &
   lifespan

*Redford Township District Library*

   - Recently added Tonies and Yotos
   - Circulating well
   - Most popular include Disney, Pete the Cat, Llama Llama, Peppa Pig,
   Brown Bear Brown Bear, Dragons Love Tacos, Spidey and His Amazing Friends,
   Cocomelon, Curious George...
   - The attached document has some images of packaging and spreadsheet data
   - Startup cost was about $2000 including packaging materials

*Rochester Hills Public Library*

   - Wonderbooks & Vox
   - Circulate well
   - very durable, and the battery lasts a long time!
   - awkward to shelve. On the bookmobile, we interfile them with their
   respective collections.
   - There are many large print youth fiction Wonderbooks, and those are
   especially great for struggling readers.

*Parchment Community Library*

   - VOX books.
   - Each order comes with 1 or 2 chargers which we keep on the counter in
   our workroom.  Recharge books when returned
   - Very popular, had to limit only 1 VOX book per patron per checkout.
   - One thing you have to consider is what you do when a VOX book comes
   back in horrible shape. Do you charge the patron the high cost? We have
   not had that problem yet but I’m sure it will happen.

Rebecca Stout
Youth Librarian
Berkley Public Library

*Please note: my email address has changed to rstout at berkleymi.gov

248-658-3440

3155 Coolidge Hwy
Berkley, MI 48072
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