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The article offers information on the development of Audiobook-on-Ipods program in the U.S. It states that the Research Library at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) established the program using leadership and management audiobooks. It describes audiobooks as digital sound recordings of books that can read aloud and have become widely used over the past few years. It explores the inclusion of audiobooks in the library's collections, and investigates the best way to make the audiobooks available for customers.

The article examines the increasing use of audio media and the response of U.S. libraries to the needs of users. The article surveys the continuing popularity of older media formats such as audiobooks and compact discs, but notes that many libraries are offering content in digital files that can be downloaded from collections stored online. INSETS: INDUSTRY OVERVIEW;WHAT'S ON THAT DISC?.

Reports that the King County Library System in Washington has made electronic audiobooks available in its eAudio collection. Way that books are played on MP3 players; Titles bought from the company Audible.com; How library patrons want to download electronic books themselves.

The article summarizes presentations elsewhere in the issue regarding digital audiobook systems for libraries and other institutional customers. It examines competitive audiobook services such as Audible, OverDrive, and NetLibrary that offer digital audiobooks via downloading from the Web. The article also examines distribution models including Playaway, which delivers its digital audiobooks on preloaded, self-contained portable playback devices, and TumbleTalkingBooks, which streams its content over the Internet. Potential new vendors include Ingram Library Services and Audio-Read. The article presents reasons to wait, including the iPod impasse and the fact that most systems work better if the patron is outside the library.

This article presents a review of the current state of the quickly emerging digital audiobook market for libraries. The growing end-user groups exist for digital audiobook content and services include commuters and other travelers, exercise enthusiasts and people with print impairments. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has been the major supplier of recreational talking books for U.S. citizens with print impairments. Although several strong commercial digital audiobook services have been established in the North American market, it remains a rough time for the industry, with official an de facto standards and best practices still emerging in almost every facet of the business. One of the mainstream suppliers of digital audiobooks is Audible.com. It is designed to meet the needs of the individual reader. However, it welcomes business from libraries. Digital audiobooks come in a proprietary version of MP3 with an .AA file extension. Users can listen to content on certain compatible MP3 players. OverDrive launched its service in November 2004. As of May, its master collection contained more than 1,770 titles. Brilliance Audio was the company's first major supplier of digital audiobooks.

This article reports on the Ohio eBook Project launched by the State Library of Ohio in October 2005. The program will allow libraries across the state to access hundreds of eBooks and audiobooks for patrons. The program is funded by $28,000 in start-up money from the State Library, which also pays $1,000 in maintenance fees to OverDrive, a digital book vendor that supplies the software and materials for the collection.

Presents information on the growth of religion and spirituality audiobooks in the U.S. as of April 2004. Percentage of income generated from religion and spirituality books by the audio industry; Comments from several audio book executives; Problems in merchandising audio books in commercial stores.

This article presents news briefs that pertain to audiobooks, including information about the introduction of a downloadable MP3 audiobook line by PoliPoint Press that includes Dean Baker's "Plunder and Blunder: The Rise of the Bubble Economy." Tantor Media also has a digital download of Brian Hebert and Kevin J. Anderson's "Dune: House" trilogy. The 2009 Sales Survey results from Audio Publishers Association show a decrease in audiobook CD sales, but an increase in download sales.

Reviews audiocassettes about religion. `The Life of Jesus'; `The Minstrel and the Storyteller: Stories and Songs of the Jewish People'; `Praise Him!: 25 Praise Songs for Children.

The author reflects on the increasing popularity of audiobooks to enhance the education of children in the U.S. According to the author, producers of audiobooks are considering at the impact of downloadable audio on physical formats, as a respond with the growing market of audiobooks. Moreover, audiobook downloading is increasing each year, however, compact discs are still the major way consumers can purchase audiobooks. It was inferred that the links between audiobooks and other formats are becoming increasingly interesting and complex.