Baltimore County's newest library branch is offering the public the newest way to read on the go.
Playaway, a self-contained audiobook that allows readers to listen while tackling many other tasks, is available at the Perry Hall Library. The branch, one of 17 in the county's system, is circulating 340 Playaway titles and lending out all a reader needs to listen. The entire book, regardless of length, is housed in a pocket-size black box that resembles a cassette tape.
"It is great for all ages, and it can be a wonderful distraction," said Darcy Cahill, Perry Hall's manager. "People say they listen while doing the dishes, dusting or exercising. Talk about multitasking! Now you can read while planting the garden."
In less than three months since Perry Hall opened, circulation for these audiobooks has reached nearly 1,050, with more than half the titles currently on loan.
"This was our opportunity to feature a new format," said Cahill. "We have a relatively small collection with a broad range selected to appeal to various ages and tastes."
Harford, Howard and Carroll counties are all circulating Playaways. Harford originally launched the format two years ago on its Silver Reader, a mobile library for seniors. An instant popularity prompted the purchase of 2,350 titles for its 11 branches, said Janine Lis, Harford library spokeswoman. Circulation has reached nearly 10,000 since June.
Lori Holecheck, who works in Carroll County's library reference center, has checked out one of the 214 Playaways just delivered from the company's headquarters in Cleveland.
"The instructions are easy and these devices are so easy to use," she said. "This is a great replacement for books on cassette. We are providing rechargeable batteries and the branches will have ear buds available for $1."
Playaway, manufactured by Findaway World in Cleveland, debuted in Chicago public libraries three years ago and is now available nationwide at more than 20,000 libraries and schools, said Caroline Barni, company spokeswoman. It is also popular with the military, particularly those serving in remote areas of the world, she said.
Automatic book marking remembers where the reader stopped and a small window shows the time remaining in the chapter playing. Its appeal extends to the techno-challenged, said Bob Hughes, Baltimore County library spokesman.
