Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Libraries Offer Free Downloads

The digital revolution continues at libraries as book lenders across the country are now offering audiobooks that can be downloaded to PCs and portable music players.

Libraries in Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Portland and Los Angeles allow members to check out audiobooks that include digital rights management software from Overdrive, Inc. Alas poor Mac and Linux folks, it only works with Windows Media Audio devices.

The system allows only one copy of the audiobook to be checked out at a time, which could limit the potential negative impact on audiobook sales. The service appears to be popular, as every title I investigated at my library has a waiting list (who knew so many people wanted to hear Paradise Lost)?

Perhaps the upside for audiobook sellers is that more people will become familiar and comfortable with listening to books and the DRM software that prevents copying. On the other hand if the software contains any Sony-esque covert tracking (such as comparing the songs on a person's computer against the library database), then it could turn off users.

Posted By Jason Dowdell at 02:25 PM
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