Beginning April 16^th, 2007, the Coldwater Branch Library will begin circulating audiobooks for Apple’s popular iPod audio players. We already have a selection of titles for you to choose from and we’ll continue to add more from now on.

With a valid library card, you can bring your iPod to the library to checkout an audiobook. You can use our catalog to find an iPod book, just as you would to find any other book, and there will be a special link on our catalog page to see all the new iPod books. Then just come to the circulation desk and a staff member will transfer the audiobook to your iPod. There is a checkout limit of 5 iPod audiobooks at a time.

There are no due dates and no late fees with iPod audiobooks. When you are finished listening to the book, just delete it from your iPod to free up the space. That’s all there is to it!

In addition, we have a small number of iPod Shuffles for you to check out, complete with everything you’ll need to listen to your audiobooks at home or in the car. (For sanitary reasons, you’ll need to provide your own headphones for private listening.) When you checkout an iPod, you can choose any audiobook from our collection to put on it. You must be at least 18 years old to check out an iPod kit.

Just like with our cassette and CD audiobooks, you’ll be able to checkout an iPod kit for a two-week period, with one renewal allowed. And unlike cassettes or CDs, you’ll have the entire book on your player at once, so there’s no need to switch discs as you listen.

Any Branch District Library patron may use this service, though for now you’ll need to come to the main branch in Coldwater to do so. If the demand is sufficient, we’ll place iPod stations at our other branches next year. So be sure to fill out a comment card or let your librarian know if you’d like to see this service come to your branch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I checkout more than one kit?
A. Sorry, we have only a small number of kits, so it's one per person.

Q. Will you be getting more iPods/iPods with screens?
A. No, we have no plans to get any more iPods at this time.

Q. Will the library offer music in addition to audiobooks?
A. Probably not, but it might happen someday.

Q. Can I check out an iPod kit without a book?
A. Sorry, we are circulating the iPods to introduce our new audiobook format. We won't be circulating iPods just to circulate iPods.

Q. Can I use my SanDisk/Zen/Zune/Rio/Other player with your service?
A. No, this service will work only with Apple iPod devices.

Q. Why did you choose a program that works only with Apple iPods?
A. Because the Apple iPod is the most popular player on the market right now.

Q. I have the audiobook on my own iPod, how do I find it to listen to it?
A. Using the click wheel, navigate from the main screen to Audiobooks. You might also find them at Music->Genres->Audiobooks.