I hope no one minds if I stick my two cents in here:

I'm guessing the people who check out audiobooks on cd are a majority of older adults that are (I say this with kindness and no judgment) either reluctant to learn a new technology or intimidated by/resistant to digital things. They also probably have (and I'm assuming here) older vehicles that still have cd players in them and/or the equipment at home that supports this older format. Lots of people have most assuredly moved on from physical CDs with the advent of streaming, but I still get a question every once in a blue moon about VHS! Shocking, I know. But it still happens.

I've assisted many older adults who have come into the library seeking help with their tablets gifted to them by well-meaning children and family, and they almost always say something to the effect of not having someone to teach them at home and unwanted, uncomfortable overwhelm at the prospect of learning AT ALL. There's a vulnerability in asking for help to learn something, and even bigger one to ask a total stranger. It's always a pleasure to help them because they often want to keep up with the advances but they just didn't grow up with technology. Sometimes I think they're afraid of making a mistake, appearing stupid, or causing some kind of harm to the physical devices or software itself, and I love reassuring them that that is not the case. I can't speak for anyone else, but my generation has (and my experience has been) the advantage of growing up with technology and the culture of independence to finagle with and figure things out ourselves. This has in fact gotten me in trouble a few times because I like to push buttons, ha. With aging adults, however, sometimes they just need reassurance and coaxing to adopt new technologies (not that streaming is really all that new anymore).

I'm also guessing Deb would absolutely LOVE to spend her budget on something more impactful to her community. And I don't mean that audiobooks on CD aren't impactful, because they mean something to the small minority of people still using them. But I can imagine it would be so rewarding to provide a new service or collection that would get heavier usage and therefore largely change circulation stats dramatically.

I have to insist with fervor that this is an absolutely wonderful opportunity to do something to encourage the ongoing and fearless exploration of digital content. Maybe they just need hand-holding! Maybe this means holding a quarterly program to introduce old and new technologies in a safe and encouraging environment. Maybe this means offering one-on-one appointments so they don't feel stupid in front of other people.

On Wed, Jul 12, 2023 at 6:19 PM Winter, Donna via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
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.

Donna Winter
Assistant Branch Librarian 
Livonia Public Library
(734) 466-2675
dwinter@livoniapubliclibrary.org
www.livoniapubliclibrary.org

      

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From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Teresa Natzke via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 5:21 PM
To: Deb Hemmye <dhemmye@hwoodslib.org>
Cc: Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org>; Sara Ault <sault@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?


From: "Michlib-l" <michlib-l@mcls.org>
To: "Sara Ault" <sault@brandonlibrary.org>
Cc: "Michlib-l" <michlib-l@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@brandonlibrary.org>
To: "Michlib" <michlib-l@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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