CTLS Downloadable Audiobooks Consortium Homepage
This wiki is designed for the members of Central Texas Library System to learn about the CLTS Downloadable Audiobooks (E-audiobooks) consortium with NetLibrary.
What are downloadable audiobooks?
A downloadable audiobook, also called an eaudiobook, is an audiobook in digital format whose files you save onto your home computer (or a designated library computer) via the Internet. You can then play the audiobook:
• through your computer using software like Windows Media Player
• by burning the files onto a CD to then use in a CD player, or
• by transferring the files to your digital audio device, like a securewma-compatible mp3 player
Who provides downloadable audiobooks?
We subscribe to NetLibrary, but other audiobook vendors include Over Drive, audible.com, and Playaways (these are pre-downloaded eaudiobooks). There are several places where you can listen to free audiobooks, including Librivox . Read more about the pros and cons of different eaudiobook vendors...
Who are the current members of the consortium?
There are 10 current members: Brenham, Burnet County, Cedar Park, Gatesville, Georgetown, Hewitt, Llano County, Round Rock, Salado, San Saba, and Westbank. Pricing was broken down by number of libraries (25%) and circulation of libraries (75%).
View the Pricing Structure for March 2007 to March 2008.
When can I sign up to join?
We're thinking that we'll have another open enrollment in late September, early October of 2007. Please let me know if your library is interested in participating (some of you already have -- thanks!).
What resources are available to me?
NetLibrary Frequently Asked Questions
How do I promote our eaudiobooks subscription?
NetLibrary came up with a useful pamphlet to get us thinking about how to promote this service to our patrons.
Troubleshooting
Here's an article about how to incorporate your NetLibrary books into your catalog with MARC records.
How do users connect?
Users can connect at the library, if you provide NetLibrary support with your IP addresses in your 
AudioBook Account Setup Form. You can also use your current TexShare portal if it is a unique portal, like Hewitt Public Library's: http://www.texshare.edu/hewittpublic. Find out more information about setting up a free custom gateway to TexShare, care of the Texas State Library. Fill out the agreement form and send it to the TexShare database coordinator.
Once a patron creates a login account from an authenticated site (either within the library or somewhere else with remote authentication -- think the TexShare password that allows users to access databases from home), that patron can log in from anywhere in the world and will still be associated with his or her member library.
What players work with NetLibrary?
Palm devices with a reasonably-recent version of PocketTunes installed. See Using PocketTunes to play eaudiobooks
What does it look like to the viewer?
Here's the first screen you should get when accessing NetLibrary:
Authentication Problems?
Xan from Westbank (and Biblionix) says:
One of the things we're pioneering here is access to databases and other resources without requiring patrons to remember or store usernames and passwords. That's how we ended up with the automatic login to TexShare and other access-from-home resources. The patron only has to log in to the library's account, and he's in to everything. (It has dramatically increased usage.)
I'm working with another part of NetLibrary as Biblionix to try to integrate the features of the authentication server into that automatic login feature. If they're amenable to that, it'll be the easiest way for both patrons and for librarians to provide access to NetLibrary.
In the meantime, Biblionix can get patrons in as a member of the library, still requiring their own account of course, but without having to go through TexShare customization. See http://salado.biblionix.com . So for a Biblionix library, that's (at the moment) the best way.
I will add more content to this wiki as resources become available and as I hear your questions and concerns. If you'd like to edit the wiki, the password is texas. Happy audio-downloading! -Kam
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