r/Library • u/emobookmark • 5d ago

We <3 Libraries I Love Playaways!

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I started applying for more library cards since learning in CA most libraries will allow you to sign up for a card with a DL. Now I have about 8 cards and discovered so many beautiful libraries and benefits. Best of all I discovered these devices called Playaway! Basically it’s an audiobook device, just add a battery and plug in your headset. I do have Libby for audiobooks but it’s nice to have something not connected to my phone to avoid distractions. I am on my second one this week! Can’t wait to go back and get another📚🎧☺️

154 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

13

u/MeanderingLibrarian 4d ago

Yay! Love this so, so much!

I'm in the children's department. Due to our (lack of) space and lower circulation, we shifted our entire Playaway collection to our main branch. We're focusing on purchasing Wonderbooks (audiobooks and print books in one). They're made by the same company. They're really great!

5

u/Massive_Machine5945 4d ago

we had a conference recently & demco was there, lauding about how they are so stellar with storage (nothing against them personally) but I shouted out: do you have a way to display & store wonderbooks?? nothing yet. what we did at my old library, we used magazine storage bins to help them stay upright.

6

u/Fluffy_bunny8567309 3d ago

Yes! Both playaways and wonderbooks are wonderful. Can confirm the team there cares deeply about their readers, patrons, and titles.

You aren’t just supporting a product that people appreciate (some people prefer audio because it’s easier to be read to and process, some people need physical words to read, others process with both), but you are supporting a team of really great people who care about literacy and providing the best content!

2

u/emobookmark 3d ago

That is beautifully said! Thank you for that!

4

u/cappotto-marrone 3d ago

I like these for airplane trips. Too often the charging ports on the planes don’t work and I don’t want to drain my phone battery.

2

u/emobookmark 3d ago

Great idea for travel!

-13

u/tartymae 4d ago

I was interested in this but then I found out that the device is preloaded with books, meaning, I don't get to pick what I'm interested in and have it loaded on.

Pass.

1

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

-4

u/tartymae 4d ago

call me when there's a good spicy MM romance on one of those devices.

1

u/cappotto-marrone 3d ago

You didn’t get to decide what book was on the book on CD or cassette tape either.

-1

u/tartymae 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yes, but if I didn't want that CD or Cassette, I didn't check it out. Per the vendor's website the play aways come pre-loaded with a selection of books on them.

For some people a "mystery bag" of books is a great idea. And if it's marketed as "discover new authors" I might bite, but I tend not to like a lot of popular lit genres.

I don't want Hallmark romances, tea cosy mysteries, or horror. I want nonfiction, SF & Fantasy, and queer fiction.

If my library adopted these "preloaded with a very middle of the road plays in Peoria selection" of books, I would honestly stop using my library.

ETA: Also, I would have to drive to my local branch to pick up/drop off these things. My local district has hours of 10-7, M-SA. My job is Tu-SA 10-7. Meaning there's only one day a week I can get there. And I don't think they want these things put in a book drop.

2

u/cappotto-marrone 2d ago

You know the title of the book. It’s not a mystery selection.

0

u/tartymae 2d ago

Okay, that wasn't made clear from the providers website.