Playaway has been embraced by over 4,000 libraries across the United States.  In a recent survey of our library customers, 99% said that they would recommend Playaway to another library.  Below are some of the many reasons libraries and their patrons are loving Playaway.

Featured Case Study:

Cuyahoga County Public Library

CCPL was voted the number one library in the nation among libraries that serve populations over 500,000 according to the 7th annual Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings 2006. CCPL has been conducting a pilot program with Playaway since early 2006. After completing several on-going patron surveys, CCPL has decided to triple their collection of Playaway titles, noting that "the excitement for Playaway among our patrons has been contagious."

Read the entire CCPL case study (pdf)

Case Studies:

We love when our customers share their success stories with us. Below are some of the highlights from libraries across the country.

District of Columbia Public Library

DCPL started carrying Playaway in October 2006 with a pilot program in six branches, each carrying 25 titles. DCPL conducted a survey to learn their patrons’ opinions of Playaway, and the results were so positive that they added 150 titles to their collection. Patrons at DCPL have particularly enjoyed Playaway because it provides the portability of an MP3, but does not require the technical know-how or special equipment to use it. Additionally, DCPL’s patrons enjoy the fact that they can browse Playaway titles on the shelf, like books.

Prince William Public Library

When Prince William first started carrying Playaway, they ordered 35 titles to test in two branch locations. Their initial collection was an instant success and was checked out in the first 24 hours! Playaway was quickly expanded to their other eight branches and the demand is seen in all demographics, but especially baby boomers, the visually impaired, and teens. The staff at Prince William does a great job at letting the community know about Playaway. They are helping their patrons understand the benefits of Playaway in various ways, from a public service announcement on the local government channel to press releases and their e-newsletter. The results of their efforts have been evident in the high demand for Playaway amongst their patrons. Currently, patrons are checking the new Playaway titles on order and have holds on them before they even arrive! We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff and patrons at Prince William for helping others discover an easier way to enjoy audiobooks!

Michigan Library Consortium

MLC is a nonprofit membership organization of all types of Michigan libraries, providing group purchases, training, and technical support for their members. When MLC first researched Playaway, 36 titles were available for libraries. Playaway's title list has quickly grown with the addition of 25-50 new titles every month, and MLC is now able to offer hundreds of titles to its members! Through the use of Playaway, MLC members are able to provide their patrons with a simple means of accessing digital media.

Pemberton Community Library

Playaway is available to all members of the Burlington County Library System, as well as members of the library's outreach program, which includes a local hospital and developmental center. The library features over 80 titles and is looking to grow the collection to over 120 titles. Patrons have enjoyed the convenience of a player and audiobook content all in one small unit, and librarians enjoy the fact that Playaways are easier to maintain than multiple CDs and tapes.

Schaumburg Township District Library
As the second largest public library in Illinois, STDL is committed to providing its patrons with resources using the latest technology. Over the past year, over 100 Playaway titles have been added to STDL's collection. Patrons have quickly adopted this new format of audiobook and have already circulated Playaways more than 500 times!

The King County Library System

KCLS boasts the second highest circulation in the nation and more than 1 million visitors per month. When the library system wanted to add a more portable solution to their collection of audiobooks, they chose Playaway as their on-the-go audiobook option for patrons. The best part? The unit cost and turnaround time to shelve was substantially lower than using an MP3 player and downloadable book format.