Prompt

Ebooks and audiobooks are a part of our landscape. What does the change in medium mean for appeal factors? If you can't hold a book and feel the physical weight of it in your hands, how does that affect your knowledge of the genre? How about readers being able to change the font, line spacing, and color of text - how does that affect pacing and tone? How about audiobooks? Track length, narrator choice, is there music?  For this week, I want you to think about how ebooks and audiobooks affect appeal factors - also think about appeals that are unique to both mediums. Please feel free to use your own experience and that of your (anonymous of course) patrons. I look forward to reading these!

I was initially leery of eBooks, but my family bought me a Kindle and am I happy they did! I still prefer physical books, but as I read so much - going on a week long vacation meant 7 or more books and they are heavy! Especially fantasy novels, they can weigh a ton. Now I can toss in 2 books and my Kindle and I am good to go. As I read a lot of romance, and am one of those that is not ashamed, I could care less what people think of my reading choices. So that isn't an issue for me.

I can also get books cheaper, which helps my wallet. The choice to buy a book at 2am is nice, too. I have found many authors in different genre's that I would never have read if not for eBooks, mainly because of the price. I have not downloaded any from the library, and a few patrons told me they get annoyed waiting, not being able to renew, or realizing that a new book that came out is not available on that platform. Since most of the patrons that only want to download items don't come in too often, I don't hear much feedback other than the issues above.

I have only listened to one audiobook so far. I have read the book, but heard the narrator was fabulous so I downloaded it. It was great. I like the option of speeding the narration and tried reading while listening. It was pretty cool. However, I work very close to my home and when I am driving more than an hour I usually have my minions with me and I know they wouldn't want to listen to my books. Plus, with some books I don't want them listening either!  I also don't like the idea of wearing headphones or buds, even just one in an ear because I would feel "cut off" from any conversations that may arise. 

Audiobooks are a bit hit with our patrons. Many use on their daily drives to work (usually to Chicago which may be an hour each way), these patrons may take out 10-20 at a time. Or when people are going on vacation, then they may take more family oriented books, checking out 3-4 for variety. I have noticed a rise in the use with kids, some that have developmental issues or have a harder time reading. Another thing I have noticed is that for some patrons, audiobooks have the flip-flop affect. Either they have read physical books by an author and want to "hear" in audiobook format, or they may usually only "listen" and if we don't have the next book in a series - they will take out the physical book to keep up. At my branch, many of the audiobook listeners like series, so we have been trying to make sure we have the whole set.