They are downloadable for playback on Windows PCs and for playback on only a small percentage of portable players.

What do they lose by going with WMA DRM? People with ipods can’t use the downloaded materials without going through severe contortions (burning to cds and then ripping to an ipod-friendly format like mp3) to do so. And in the end, if someone wants to “pirate” the files, they can do exactly the same thing as the ipod owner. Ultimately, they end up inconveniencing EVERYBODY, perhaps to the point that people don’t use the resource, for the sake of inconveniencing a minority of users who want to distribute files illegally without actually preventing this minority from behaving illegally.

The result is:
* A handful of relatively low-capacity players that can use the Overdrive format and an older DRM-version.
* A single line of Microsoft players using a newer DRM system that is incompatible with everything else.
* Incompatibility with a large number of players which comprise 80%+ of the units in the US, including the i-pod line.

Better options include:
* ‘Audible’-formatted media — This has far greater market penetration in players (including i-pods). I’d talk to Audible to see if they might want to provide systems for libraries.
* And Open-DRM system. This appears to be a fantasy. Why would anyone except consumers or copyright owners want a royalty-free system that any player manufacturer could install on any device or operating system?

In any case, I’m a bit disappointed that there has been so little push-back from libraries before adopting the Overdrive system. Like Alderete, I would favor libraries purchasing audio-CDs until the many bugs are worked out of the competing DRM systems. I have no complaints about DRM or the idea protecting the content of producers, but I am bothered by the long history of ham-fisted, monopoly-protecting, DRM implementations.

The idea of encouraging patrons to copy CDs appears to go against US Code 17 as posted by the photocopiers here. We’re not copyright police, but it seems that we’re telling people that it’s OK to speed on one freeway where they won’t get caught and not to speed on another which is enforced (we ask people not to burn and remind them of USC 17 if we see them with a stack of our items and a container of blank CDs). This sets up a state of cognitive dissonance for them and makes us look like we’re talking on both sides of our mouths.

At last year’s CLA, I met a publisher of audiobooks who says they burn theirs to portable devices all the time…so does that make it OK?

A previous poster suggested purchasing books on CD (only) and skipping the compressed and more convenient MP3/WMA/etc. I’m in favor of that.

I agree with you, however, that we ought to use the chance to educate. Also worth posting is links to some NPR or other good podcasts that would appeal to library users.

To be honest, we’ve gotten some very positive feedback from having downloadable audiobooks (Overdrive and Netlibrary), and I don’t necessarily think it’s fair to hold that portion of our patrons back by not offering any. It’s like anything else–moderation and making sure you’re meeting the needs of your patrons should be your goals.

That said, this has been a fantastic discussion. I’m definitely adding another page to our eaudiobook handouts to flesh out the answer to “Will these work with my mp3 player?” Now I can direct iPod users to some resources that will.

I get a lot of follow-up questions from people who read the site, and one of the top questions is about the various downloadable audiobooks from libraries. And although the detail are messy and complicated (as noted by others above), my advice to people is simple: Ask your local library to spend its money on audiobooks on standard Audio CDs, instead of downloadable versions that don’t work for a significant percentage of library patrons.

Libraries and librarians want to be helpful and relevant to their patrons and communities. That’s why they’re experimenting with the various downloadable formats. There are a few benefits of downloadable versions, primarily accessibility for people who can’t come to the library, and eliminating the risks of physical damage to or loss of the asset. These would be terrific advances for libraries and patrons.

But the devil is in the details, and current implementations of downloadable audiobooks, at least in expiring, library-style time limited loan formats, just have too many problems to consider them a solution. I think it’s good to experiment with them, but with the understanding that it shouldn’t come at the expense of acquiring audiobooks in Audio CD format, which are compatible with a far more broad range of playback devices.

The DRM issue also has to do with the economy of writing (or at least modern publishing). I think it’s great that we have a public domain, and that many writers contribute free work. I’d like to be able to sustain all of my writing through road shows and big concerts. ;-) But for a significant number of participants in the writing economy, the traditional model (someone produces a work product, and someone else pays for it) drives some of the decisions that result in Overdrive being forced to use DRM-based devices. (Apple is no stranger to DRM, of course, as anyone who has bought anything through iTunes knows.)

I’m not sure complex explanations work with patrons. It’s not that people are stupid, but they are busy and focused on what they came to the library to do, which is reading/listening, not on wrangling publisher agreements or worrying about device dependency. I think “this is about as messy as VHS versus Beta” might work for older patrons. “Evolving technology” is another good one. Overdrive is the most innocent of all participants: it’s looking to maintain a viable service that real publishers will use. Apple versus Windows… well, at that point you can say “they’re both out to make a buck” and point out, “In ten years, everything will be different.” ;-)

We can’t support the cost overhead of Overdrive , but because of our wonderful statewide reciprocal program, a lot of our patrons have accounts at Denver and download from them. We’ve heard a lot of these same complaints and have just started putting together a companion brochure to the free-music FAQ brochure that we put out at the beginning of the summer. That brochure has drummed up a lot of interest in indie music among a teen crowd whose tastes had been pretty limited to Walmart’s top 10 CDs, so I have high hopes.

Technically, sure. (And someone above already pointed out licensing restrictions that may exist.) But realistically, I can get just over an hour of book time onto a cd and, frankly, I don’t want to burn 10 cd’s and then rip them all back and then put them on my portable device. It’s an inconvenience and I’m certain I wouldn’t go to the trouble to do it. I’m more likely to visit Audible.com and buy it.

Fortunately for me, I’m not an iPod owner. I prefer my Creative player. However, there are many iPod users visiting libraries in my area that would like to play books on them. Interestingly, though, at one local library, they’ve had a number of users simply say, “well, I own more than one iPod, I might as well go buy a cheap player for books, too.” Interesting.