Audio Books Online, Large Print Online

The San Juan Island Library has two new subscriptions available--online audio books and online Large Print books. The first are just like books on cassette tape or CD, narrated by professional readers or authors; many of them are licensed from the same producers of library audio books seen on library shelves: Blackstone, Highbridge and others. These books, however, play on a computer, over the Internet, using streaming technology. One benefit of this type of subscription is that multiple readers may listen to the same book at the same time, so the library doesn't need to buy duplicate copies and readers don't need to get on a waiting or "hold" list for a title--a book group might like to try to listen to a book together. Since patrons listen to the books over a computer, you won't need to even visit the library to use these books.

"For me, listening to books is like the old time radio shows - it's a rich experience. Listening, however, doesn't have to replace reading a book printed on paper; people often listen to different types of material than what they read. For instance, I usually multi-task while I listen, making kitchen chores more enjoyable, whereas reading requires more attention," said outreach coordinator Beth Helstien.
 
Large Print books are also available online. The user can easily adjust how big the type appears on the monitor and whether the pages turn automatically at a user-determined speed, or whether the user wishes to turn click each time to advance the text. For people with low vision and some basic computer skills, this option could enhance independence and provide more literature choices. People with chemical or other sensitivities to handling library books might also find the availability of full text books online an option.

The downside? "At my house, I couldn't read books over the Internet without tying up our single telephone line all day." For folks with dedicated Internet access, however, online audio books may be a great advantage.
 
The library will be evaluating these new online audio and Large Print subscriptions to determine whether they are worthwhile. You can test it for yourself at www.sjlib.org. Click on online databases, then scroll to the bottom of the list and choose Tumble TalkingBooks Library for audio books or TumbleReadables Library for Large Print. You will be asked for your library account number, it is the last digits on your library card, after the string of at least two zeros. You will also need a recent version of Macromedia Flash Player, which is available for free. Let the library know your opinion. Write the library at sjlib@sjlib.org or stop in and visit.
 
The collection at the library includes both fiction and non-fiction books for very young children, for grade-school aged children and for adults. In addition to its collections of books, audio books and videos to loan, the library also provides computers for the public to use and a wide variety of subscription databases addressing topics ranging from books in print, literature, magazines and newspapers, to medical, legal and reference databases, and even auto repair. Access to the databases is available outside the library through the on-line database button on the library homepage, www.sjlib.org.
 
Library hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Library cards are free to island residents with proof of residency.