HEARD
Any Good Books Lately?

Teens are the target audience for a new program at the library that allows patrons to check out audio books – and an iPod to listen to them.

A launch party for the program – “Heard a Good Book Lately?” – will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Main Branch, 1740 Central Ave. An iPod Shuffle will be given away, and pizza will be served.

The library recently purchased 50 iPod Nanos and downloaded 50 audio books onto them. Each title can be checked out for two weeks, and renewed once.

Members of the Teen Library Council helped staff members select the titles, which include works by many popular writers, including J.K. Rowling, Stephen King and Anthony Horowitz. An additional 50 titles will be added over the next several months.

The TLC members will demonstrate the iPods Tuesday night and share reviews of books they have listened to.

This program is the first of its kind by a library in Kentucky and, perhaps, the nation. Other libraries have books on iPods, but those programs do not target teens. The goal of Boyd County Public Library’s program is to increase reading – of audio books and print books – by teens and to bring more teens into the library.

“Today’s teens are being raised in a technology-driven society. Young people multi-task and consume a wider variety of media at the same time than any other period in modern history,” said Library Director Debbie Cosper. “It is important that libraries play a vital role in reintroducing the power of books and stories to teens by having collections and resources that are responsive to trends and provide maximum exposure to new titles.”

Teens will fill out a survey when they return the iPod and will be encouraged to check out books in print as well.

The iPods are being distributed among all three branches: 20 to the Main Branch and 10 each to Catlettsburg and Summit. The remaining 10 devices are being reserved for a teen book discussion group. Each group member will listen to the same book and library staff will facilitate a discussion about what they “read.” The first book discussion program will be held this summer, with another in the fall.

Headphones will be purchased for members of the book discussion groups. For sanitary reasons, all others who check out iPods must provide their own headphones.

Also, teens who listen to books will be asked to write a review for the library’s new teen Web Page, called “Teen Scene.” Members of the Teen Library Council are writing the first reviews. Teen Scene will go live at the April 11th launch party.

The project is being funded by a $13,500 federal grant administered by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. It pays for the iPods, cases and chargers, as well as audio books, print books and promotional costs.

After the year of the grant is up, patrons of all ages will be able to check out the iPod audio books.

For more information, or to sign up, call Amanda Gilmore at (606) 329-0518.