Q: Who uses downloadable audiobooks?
A: The August 2005 issue of Library Journal reported that most users do not feel a need to own audiobooks since they are listened to only once. OverDrive did a survey and discovered that 35% of digital audiobook listeners are 44 years old and older, 71% of listeners are female, and 35% of users listen to the audiobooks on their PC instead of transferring to a portable device. Teenagers are another market for downloadable audiobooks, since it helps them "disguise" their reading habits.

Q: Who are the major digital audiobook providers?
A: NetLibrary, OverDrive, iTunes, Audible, and Playaway are the largest distributors of digital audiobooks.

Q: What is DRM?
A: DRM stands for digital rights management. The TechWeb Techencyclopedia defines this term as: "A system for authorizing the viewing or playback of copyrighted material on a user's computer or digital music player." Depending on the audiobook, you may require either Windows Media Player or QuickTime to activate your license and allow for transfer to a portable device.

Q: Do downloadable audiobooks work on iPods?
A: Most of the downloadable audiobook systems use a DRM geared towards Windows Media Player and releases them as .wma files. At this time, Apple does not support the encryption on .wma files. iTunes is the most popular audiobook library for iPod users.

Q: What's the difference between an MP3 player with a flash drive and one with a hard drive?
A: An MP3 player with a flash memory drive is less expensive, but they usually only allow for pause and play. You will have to listen to an audiobook all the way through before you can listen to a different file. A player with a hard drive will cost more, but you will have the ability to bookmark, which allows you to designate a place within a file and return to that place. To have an optimal experience when listening to a NetLibrary eAudiobook, it is recommended that you choose a device that supports features such as bookmarking and full time stamping. Devices that support full time stamping do not limit the time tracking of a file in any way and will allow the full length of an eAudiobook file to display.

Q: Where can I research which MP3 player to buy?
A: The Plays for Sure Web site was developed by Microsoft to list most MP3 players that will support .wma files. CNet reviewed the best MP3 players for audiobooks in November 2007. New Egg and Tom's Hardware are two useful sites that have both industry and user reviews of MP3 players. It is recommended that you choose a device that has a minimum storage capacity of 256 MB, since the average CD-quality eAudiobook file size from NetLibrary is 140 MB.

Q: What about those library patrons who are unsure about purchasing an MP3 player?
A: Some libraries have chosen to purchase their own MP3 players for circulation. Library staff can download the audiobook for their patron at the library. This allows patrons to experiment with MP3 players before they make an investment.

Q: Can NetLibrary eAudiobooks be downloaded in smaller files or chapters?
A: In order to download digital audiobooks in sections, users would need special software to manage this process. Some audiobook providers have developed their own software for users to manage or listen to their audiobooks. NetLibrary feels it is important to use software or plug-ins that are already commonly installed and available on computers rather than requiring the library or user to download and install additional software. Therefore, NetLibrary made the decision to make eAudiobooks available in a single download.

Q: What sound quality options are available with NetLibrary eAudiobooks?
A: When selecting sound qualities to offer for eAudiobooks, NetLibrary wanted to provide a pleasing listening quality with file sizes that would be reasonable for speed-of-download and file storage. For this reason, both CD and Radio Quality choices are available. Radio quality (4 kbps) results in a file size that is reasonable for most dial-up users to download, but cannot be transferred to a portable device. A CD quality (34 kbps) file is an option for users with high-speed connections or users who wish to transfer files to a portable device.

For questions about downloadable audiobooks, please contact Asia Gross (ext. 814) at the MLNC office (800-969-6562).