Vol. 35, No. 2
June 2005

NEW PLAYERS,
NEW FORMAT TO DEBUT IN 2008

As you may have heard, the National Library Service will introduce new playback equipment and a new format for talking books in 2008 that will result in better sound quality, no more side selector switch changes, and a lighter, more portable player. NLS has selected Battelle, a company that is a leader in creating new technologies, to develop the new books and machines. Battelle will be joined in the development process by HumanWare (formerly Visuaide), The National Federation of the Blind, and Trace Research and Development College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The books will be digitally recorded and delivered via a flash memory cartridge, and although at this time we’re not sure exactly what they will look like, they will probably resemble the cartridges now used in digital cameras. NLS expects to offer two versions of the playback machine, one that is simple and straight-forward and another that is more complex, offering advanced features.

NLS plans to have 60,000 playback units and 20,000 digital talking book titles ready for use in 2008. They will continue to produce books on cassette until a complete transition to only digital equipment can be made some time in the future.

In the meantime, all NLS books are being recorded digitally so they can be easily transferred to the new media, and we here in Arizona are also making the transition to digital recording with the help of our Friends group who have been busy raising money for the new equipment. Thanks to their efforts, our first digital recording booth will be installed this year in our studio here at the Library.