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When Geneseo library patrons listen to books on CD, does hearing the full story matter? Does it matter more if the book is a Charles Dickens classic versus the latest Danielle Steel romance?
The Geneseo library board discussed abridged and unabridged books on CD at its April 13 meeting.
Library director Claire Crawford said when she purchases abridged audio books for the library’s collection the issue is a matter of “cost and space.”
“An unabridged audio book cost approximately $100, while the abridged version is more like $25 or $30,” Crawford told the board.
However, library board member Jim Luikart said, “We can’t let cost decide this issue.”
In the past, when audio books were recorded primarily on cassette, the number of cassettes required to make up an unabridged book could result in a package that occupied four or five inches of shelf space, verses the one or two inches of an abridged version.
With books on CD, the package size varies only slightly between unabridged and abridged.
Board president Jim Hale expressed concern regarding the purchase of the shortened abridged versions.
“Our population is getting far too much abridged information as it is these days,” said Hale.
He also expressed concern that offering abridged versions of literature could be considered a form of censorship. “I’m very strongly against any vestage of censorship, but I don’t know if abridged books are considered censored.”
Board member Holly McAvoy, who uses books on CD, said many times the abridged version will leave out a story’s “secondary plot line.”
Library employee Deb Wyffels said, in the past, the library only purchased unabridged books on CD. Any abridged versions in the collection were the result of patron donations.
However, Crawford said she’s purchased abridged versions of some items because that’s what some patrons like. “I’m suppose to buy for the flavor of the community,” she said.
Still, Hale said he’d like to see the library board establish a policy regarding the purchase of unabridged verses abridged books.
“I’d like to know what it is the people want,” he said.
Hale also said he wanted to know how other libraries make decisions regarding their own audio collections.
Audio books are popular with Geneseo library patrons. In March alone, 346 audio books were checked out, third only in popularity behind books (7,922 checked out during the month) and
DVDs (2,578 checked out).
New to the library’s collection are Playaways, pre-loaded digital audio books. Roughly the size of a cassette tape, Playaways are devices that contain an entire book. Patrons must supply their own headphones to use the audio device, however the Geneseo library does sell headphones to go with the Playaways.
Playaways have become popular for patrons who like to listen to a book while they’re exercising.
In the month of March, 26 Playaways were checked out by patrons.
At the April 13 meeting, board members also:
• Voted to accepted Miller Farm & Business of Geneseo as its bookkeeping service. The library board decided to outsource its bookkeeping following last year’s retirement of long-time library bookkeeper Anita Maki.
• Appointed Crawford as the library’s official Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) agent.
When Geneseo library patrons listen to books on CD, does hearing the full story matter? Does it matter more if the book is a Charles Dickens classic versus the latest Danielle Steel romance?
The Geneseo library board discussed abridged and unabridged books on CD at its April 13 meeting.
Library director Claire Crawford said when she purchases abridged audio books for the library’s collection the issue is a matter of “cost and space.”
“An unabridged audio book cost approximately $100, while the abridged version is more like $25 or $30,” Crawford told the board.
However, library board member Jim Luikart said, “We can’t let cost decide this issue.”
In the past, when audio books were recorded primarily on cassette, the number of cassettes required to make up an unabridged book could result in a package that occupied four or five inches of shelf space, verses the one or two inches of an abridged version.
With books on CD, the package size varies only slightly between unabridged and abridged.
Board president Jim Hale expressed concern regarding the purchase of the shortened abridged versions.
“Our population is getting far too much abridged information as it is these days,” said Hale.
He also expressed concern that offering abridged versions of literature could be considered a form of censorship. “I’m very strongly against any vestage of censorship, but I don’t know if abridged books are considered censored.”
Board member Holly McAvoy, who uses books on CD, said many times the abridged version will leave out a story’s “secondary plot line.”
Library employee Deb Wyffels said, in the past, the library only purchased unabridged books on CD. Any abridged versions in the collection were the result of patron donations.
However, Crawford said she’s purchased abridged versions of some items because that’s what some patrons like. “I’m suppose to buy for the flavor of the community,” she said.
Still, Hale said he’d like to see the library board establish a policy regarding the purchase of unabridged verses abridged books.
“I’d like to know what it is the people want,” he said.
Hale also said he wanted to know how other libraries make decisions regarding their own audio collections.
Audio books are popular with Geneseo library patrons. In March alone, 346 audio books were checked out, third only in popularity behind books (7,922 checked out during the month) and
DVDs (2,578 checked out).
New to the library’s collection are Playaways, pre-loaded digital audio books. Roughly the size of a cassette tape, Playaways are devices that contain an entire book. Patrons must supply their own headphones to use the audio device, however the Geneseo library does sell headphones to go with the Playaways.
Playaways have become popular for patrons who like to listen to a book while they’re exercising.
In the month of March, 26 Playaways were checked out by patrons.
At the April 13 meeting, board members also:
• Voted to accepted Miller Farm & Business of Geneseo as its bookkeeping service. The library board decided to outsource its bookkeeping following last year’s retirement of long-time library bookkeeper Anita Maki.
• Appointed Crawford as the library’s official Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) agent.
