Book Reviews by Our Staff

Playaways @ Your Library By Lynne Gibbon

Thanks to a grant from the Ontario government through the Southern Ontario Library System, the Orillia Public Library has been able to buy a small collection of Playaways. They are for people who just want to press play and go! Each Playaway comes with the digital content already preloaded in HD Audio and each holds an entire audiobook. The user may supply their own batteries and earphones, or purchase them from the library at the circulation desk for $1.00 each. They will circulate for four weeks, but since the collection is small, we are limiting the borrowing to one item at a time until we are able to grow the collection. At this point, only adult titles are available, but titles for children and young adults will be ready soon.

Following are some of the features offered by the Playaway format. The user can control the reading speed, slowing it down or speeding it up, as required. The Playaway may be paused; it may also be reversed or fast forwarded. You may fast forward one chapter. It provides the portability of a digital format without the technical problems. They are accessible to all – you do not have to own a computer to download audiofiles nor do you need to own an Iphone or similar audio device.
The titles available at this point include mysteries, such as the Cat Who Blew the Whistle, by Lilian Jackson Braun, science fiction, such as the Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel or general fiction, such as Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. So come in to the library at 500 Gill Street and check the Playaways out!

This article will be the last from me – I will be retiring on May 19th. Thank you for allowing me to provide library service to the Orillia community for the last fourteen years; the best part of my job has been working with you. I wish you all the best in your new library; I know that the staff will work together to produce the best service they can for you, the library user.

Lynne Gibbon,
Director of Information Services

 Archives of previous columns for 2010.