Are you sitting comfortably? No need
Reading is no longer something you have to do sitting down, thanks to a new gadget being trialled in Rugby and Kenilworth by Warwickshire County Council Library Service.
Ipod-style ‘Play Aways’ are talking books for people on the move, or otherwise occupied. So now you can ‘read’ whilst exercising, doing your housework, gardening, in the car, or walking to work. Whenever the mood takes you.
Those with extra pounds still to shed from Christmas might be encouraged to know that six stones slimmer celebrity brainbox Stephen Fry listened to audio books during the lengthy walks that helped him lose weight.
“Play Aways were tested by Kenilworth Library last summer with free loans to customers in exchange for feedback,” explained Janet Everett, Mobile and Community Services Manager. “Results were encouraging, with only three of the 35 titles on offer not borrowed - so we are conducting a further trial over the next six months.”
Rugby and Kenilworth Library customers will be able to choose from more than 100 Play Away titles costing just £1 for a three-week loan. Authors available on Play Away include Michael Connelly, Maeve Binchy, P D James, Phillipa Gregory and John Grisham.
Each Play Away holds a complete audio book and allows listeners to navigate, adjust the speed, and bookmark when they stop. Disposable headphones will be available for £1 a set, plus the necessary battery for 65p.The battery-operated players are extremely light and easy to use. Each one can hold up to 40 hours audio storytelling.
If the six-month trial goes well, Play Aways could be made available to borrowers across all 34 Warwickshire libraries and five mobiles.
Cllr Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio-holder for Leisure, Culture and Housing, said: “Talking books have been around for a while but they are increasingly difficult to get on cassette. Play Away is an alternative and totally mobile format which proved popular with customers, including housebound readers, during the initial trial last year. We are conducting further trials before considering a countywide investment.”
Cllr Saint said other technology coming soon included e-books, public wifi and self-service check-outs. “Warwickshire libraries continue to move with the times and that’s why they are a well-used and much-valued service,” he said. “We will carry on making progress, through challenging times, to ensure our library services meet the needs and preferences of local people and modern lifestyles.”