Library News, by Amy Gill, Collection Development Librarian
Red Rock News
Date: November 9, 2007
Listening to Books is Cool Entertainment
Audio books saved my life when I commuted long distances in Los Angeles traffic and returned home late at night. There was no chance of my getting impatient or napping behind the wheel because I listened to terrifying, white-knuckle mystery and thriller books on CD or cassette to stay awake. I was scared stiff and, consequently, completely alert! Now, I’m no longer in L.A.; I get to live in beautiful Sedona and work as the Collection Development Librarian at our wonderful Sedona Public Library. As part of my job I have the pleasure of sharing audio books with the Sedona community. You can enjoy a good book while exercising, doing mundane chores or driving in your car. You might find an audio book will keep you awake on the way home from Phoenix.
Many library patrons have discovered audio books. Yesterday a library patron happily told me that they provide “pure entertainment” for her. Another library patron listens to books constantly while he does handyman work. He says he has continued his education and improved his attitude by listening to upbeat books. This hands-free entertainment gives us the theater experience of a book while still allowing our imaginations to roam free. And, once we start listening, we have favorite readers just like we have favorite movie stars. These books also empower us to listen at our own convenience. We can rest our eyes and read more books…what a concept! And, the whole experience is the ultimate for multi-taskers!
At the Sedona Public Library we currently have audio books on CD, cassette and “Playaways.” The thing they all have in common is that we listen to them and choose the format for listening that best suits our personal lifestyles and tastes. We have a large collection of new CD books in our library and can order others through the Yavapai Library Network. Sedona Public Library has also started a new collection of “Playaway” books and downloadable books are coming soon.
“Playaways” are books loaded individually onto battery operated devices, smaller than a cell phone. We can listen with an ear bud, headset or plug them into a speaker system while we go about our daily activities. I view them as a bridge between Walkman-like CD/cassette players and mp3 player/iPod-like devices. The “Playaways” have little buttons for stop, go, forward and rewind with instructions written in large print inside the carrying box. “Playaways” are a huge success in libraries across the country and they rarely stay on the shelf for long. We’ll be happy to help you try this new technology.
The Sedona community has varied tastes and interests, reflected in the wide range of our collection. We have biography/memoir, business, fiction/novels, foreign language learning, health, history, new age/metaphysical/spiritual, politics, relationships, self-help and more.
You can find our audio books near the Reference desk and internet computers. If you do not find them right away, ask for directions at the Reference desk. We will also show you how to find them in our online catalog or look things up for you.
This year we’ve added many thousands of new items to keep the Sedona Public Library current. Please come in and share and enjoy the collection created to enrich, entertain and inform the members of our community. You can check our web catalog from our new homepage at www.sedonalibrary.org.
The Sedona Public Library aims to serve you. We have a suggestion box at the circulation desk. Please let us know what titles and topics you like and what you want us to buy. You can also suggest a title online from the website. When you put your name and library card number on the request, if we order the item we will put on hold for you and you will be the first person to get it!
Amy Gill needs volunteers to help her refine the Library’s collection and displays. For more information please call Karen Greenwood at 282-7714.
This column is also presented on: Gateway to Sedona and Sedona Biz
