Books via Podcast and e-books?

[Heather Heck]

As per my latest blog post, is anyone out there doing stuff with audio books via podcasts or beginning to circulate e-books? I'm currently in the midst of a partial inventory/weed, and as I've been doing this, I've been thinking, and as I've been thinking, it's been bugging me--I've got a lot of old, smelly, outdated, uncirculating materials in my library! Most of our kids love-love-love books, but many more of them are getting into audiobooks and e-books, too. Any and all suggestions welcome, thanks!

[Karen Hornberger]

Hi Heather,
Our students use ebooks for nonfiction research purposes. They really respond well to them. I'm finding that sometimes the settings cause problems - downloading v. previewing. The difference is that the downloaded book at times is changed to "checked out" status making the book unviewable for a predetermined time period whether or not a patron is actually using the ebook. The preview button allows full usage of the book but closes if there is no activity on the page within a fifteen minute time period. I'm currently working on getting our settings corrected in order to only allow the books on preview status and to remove the checked out status but it is difficult.
If I were you, I'd start with a few nonfiction titles of high interest topics - watch how the students respond and build more as they become more comfortable.
Good luck!
Karen

[Heather Heck]

Thanks, Karen! Hey, what service are you using for this type of thing? Is is subscription? Low-cost? Free? Thanks again for your help!
Heather

[Karen Hornberger]

I am in Pennsylvania and our state purchased a number of ebooks available for upload for free - we share access to the books with the entire state. With this situation, they were free. Due to their success, I purchased one title in hopes of adding more from my favorite book vendor - this is the situation where I am having a little bit of trouble getting the book to only be available on preview status. They cost approximately the same as the book in print format.