[CASL-L] digital audio books

[Cathy Andronik]

While there are many good things on youtube, at the same time there's lots of stuff that shouldn't be.  Sounds like this may be another example.  Unfortunately, youtube makes it easy for kids to FIND, but they generally aren't savvy when it comes to the ethical aspects of what they've found.

I've served on ALA audiobook committees (Amazing Audiobooks as well as Odyssey) for about 5 years, plus judging the Audies twice; I'm also an author AND I've narrated a portion of one of my books for an educational company.  At the end of every LEGAL audiobook production, there is a note about not reproducing, streaming, etc., the book without written permission from the producer/publisher.  Even when I use 1-minute clips for my audiobook presentations at conferences, I let the producers know, and they're okay with BRIEF classroom (or PD) use under educational fair use.  Authors receive royalties or other payment for audiobook productions just as they do for their written work.  Unless these youtube productions are of 75+-year-old Edison-era cylinders (LOL) and likely in public domain, they're pirated editions.  And, like all pirated editions, they're NOT legal.  (I always remember the Seinfeld episode where Kramer convinces Jerry to sneak a camcorder
 into a movie theater when I talk about this.)

This is an excellent teachable moment for you as the library media specialist to instruct teachers and students in ethical use of technology.  Just because something is out there illegal but free does not mean it's ethical to use it.  Yes, the legal road may be a little more inconvenient and expensive.  It's easier and cheaper to hotwire a car in a parking lot than to work hard and save money to buy one, too--but the fact remains that stealing a car is illegal.  Someone is being deprived and defrauded by the theft.  Same with pirated movies, music, or audiobooks.

Instruct your teachers and students on other sources of audio materials, many of which are also free.  The state of Connecticut provides a number of audiobooks free online, including many novels that are part of the curriculum.  Your public library may provide additional free downloads of a huge variety of titles.  All these are through subscription services and are free AND legal.  And if audiobooks are an important part of teachers' strategies, convince your administrators that you need the budget to purchase legal copies for your collection, then advertise and market them--as FREE to borrow and listen to, since they're already purchased, like everything else in the library!

Cathy Andronik
Teacher Librarian
Brien McMahon HS
Norwalk
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On Fri, 12/12/14, Sue Lantelme <SLantelme at ledyard.net> wrote:

 Subject: [CASL-L] digital audio books
 To: "casl-l at mylist.net" <casl-l at mylist.net>
 Date: Friday, December 12, 2014, 8:25 AM
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 -->
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I'm writing seeking knowledge of the free digital
 audio book world. 
 
 
 Some of our English teachers are accessing 'free'
 digital audio books. Mostly from the Youtube channel and
 they seem to have been up(down?)loaded in the last couple of
 months. Unless these books are public domain, they're
 pirated, right? For example, a teacher
  asked for access to To Kill a Mockingbird, said
 they had accessed the audiobook, Night
 for free online earlier in the
 year.  I googled, and sure enough, here
 is 
 To Kill a Mockingbird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zChebba40r8
 
 
 I feel as though I just came through black hole &
 missed the last couple of decades
 (Interstellar). ​I've spent budget
 monies on digital audio which is now free(?) Also, the
 access is so much easier than our purchased
 digital copies. Search for
  the title audio book, click the play button & there are
 all the chapters, and full audio version, and simultaneous
 use!
 
 
 
 
 
 What are you providing for curriculum digital
 audio books?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sue
 Lantelme
 MLS, Ledyard High School
 Librarian
 slantelme at ledyard.net
 http://lhs.ledyard.libguides.com/home
 860.464.9600
 x6154
 24 Gallup Hill
 Road
 Ledyard, CT
 06339
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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