ERIC Number: EJ708173
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Nov-15
Pages: 3
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0363-0277
EISSN: N/A
Feeling a Squeeze: Audiobooks Are Popular, but Librarians Must Navigate Multiple Options--and Tighter Budgets
Oder, Norman
Library Journal, v129 n19 p34 Nov 2004
Audiobooks are more popular than ever, owing in part to publishers' practice of releasing audio versions simultaneously with book releases. LJ's recent audiobook survey shows that circulation for adult audiobooks has jumped 13.5% in two years, while the figure for children's audiobooks has risen 1.7%. Budgets for adult audiobooks went up 6.1% this year, while budgets for children's audiobooks rose 4.8%. Audiobook spending, however, remains stable when seen in the context of overall media spending. Audiobooks represent 38% of library media budgets. However, the overall fiscal picture libraries face has impacted audiobooks, and those surveyed expect their budgets for audio to increase only 2% in the next fiscal year. There is clearly demand; in a separate survey of 250 libraries, conducted by Recorded Books, 56% of respondents said audiobook spending is about right, but 41% said spending is too low. This article briefly analyses the results of the survey.
Library Journal, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. Tel: 800-588-1030 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.libraryjournal.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Media Staff
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A