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spoken_word_collections [2026/06/03 01:54] – caroline.rspoken_word_collections [2026/06/03 23:29] (current) – caroline.r
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 I guess what I am wondering is, is this common across the board? I guess what I am wondering is, is this common across the board?
    
-• How are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space? +  * How are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space? 
-• From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out. +  * From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out. 
-• We are not in a position to sell at booksale (who would buy it anyway), as it is against our policy. +  * We are not in a position to sell at booksale (who would buy it anyway), as it is against our policy. 
-• We do donate withdrawn LP to some of our nursing homes, and this is always popular – but nobody asks for spoken word. +  * We do donate withdrawn LP to some of our nursing homes, and this is always popular – but nobody asks for spoken word. 
-• We could donate to a library service who needs a boost to their collection, especially a regional library.+  * We could donate to a library service who needs a boost to their collection, especially a regional library.
    
    
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 In response to your dot points …. In response to your dot points ….
    
-• Agree that they are far too expensive. HL hase always selected its own titles, but the last 18 months we haven’t even spent our allocated budget for Audio books. We pretty much leave it to the person who spends the rest of the AV budget. If they find something and send it directly our way, all well and good, but generally it goes to the general circulation collection. From there, we just reallocate to HL if and when they are weeding. The collection is barely moving in general circ either, so I’m not sure how much longer they will continue purchasing either. +  * Agree that they are far too expensive. HL hase always selected its own titles, but the last 18 months we haven’t even spent our allocated budget for Audio books. We pretty much leave it to the person who spends the rest of the AV budget. If they find something and send it directly our way, all well and good, but generally it goes to the general circulation collection. From there, we just reallocate to HL if and when they are weeding. The collection is barely moving in general circ either, so I’m not sure how much longer they will continue purchasing either. 
-• Sustainability wise, it is weeded and almost entirely binned. It doesn’t go to book sale or get offered to outside institutions (like Large Print for example). Very few library staff would even be aware of what is happening with the whole process – the cost, the processing, the limited stats, the weeding and then disposal. Pure waste. +  * Sustainability wise, it is weeded and almost entirely binned. It doesn’t go to book sale or get offered to outside institutions (like Large Print for example). Very few library staff would even be aware of what is happening with the whole process – the cost, the processing, the limited stats, the weeding and then disposal. Pure waste. 
-• Booksale? Not against policy as such, but the decision was made several years ago to not have any AV, ie. no DVDs , music CDs or spoken word. ( It was on the back of some absolutely horrible DVDs which no one in their right mind would purchase, and thus had to be disposed of). It goes a little against the grain, as I know donated DVDs, music CDs and even spoken word CDs do move at charity shops. No a lot of money, but people do purchase, and then our customers sometimes try and donate back to us! This avenue is becoming the only one available to reasonably purchase spoken word audio for non-library users. +  * Booksale? Not against policy as such, but the decision was made several years ago to not have any AV, ie. no DVDs , music CDs or spoken word. ( It was on the back of some absolutely horrible DVDs which no one in their right mind would purchase, and thus had to be disposed of). It goes a little against the grain, as I know donated DVDs, music CDs and even spoken word CDs do move at charity shops. No a lot of money, but people do purchase, and then our customers sometimes try and donate back to us! This avenue is becoming the only one available to reasonably purchase spoken word audio for non-library users. 
-• No institutions have accepted the offer of Audio books. We did find a home for some at Sutherland hospital several years ago. I think it was ‘The Friends of Sutherland hospital’, a volunteer group getting material round to patients. Maybe one of the hospitals over your way may be interested? +  * No institutions have accepted the offer of Audio books. We did find a home for some at Sutherland hospital several years ago. I think it was ‘The Friends of Sutherland hospital’, a volunteer group getting material round to patients. Maybe one of the hospitals over your way may be interested? 
-• Have thought about donating too. Some of the stuff has been in mint condition. If not donating, what about a long term loan like what the State does when offering?+  * Have thought about donating too. Some of the stuff has been in mint condition. If not donating, what about a long term loan like what the State does when offering?
    
 I don’t know where its all heading, but the end is nigh for these resources. This issue is what has prompted me to chase up the Vision Australia option to guarantee a decent selection if Borrowbox decides to go down the app path. I don’t know where its all heading, but the end is nigh for these resources. This issue is what has prompted me to chase up the Vision Australia option to guarantee a decent selection if Borrowbox decides to go down the app path.
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 Observations Recommendations Observations Recommendations
-• 90% of audiobook loans were in digital format, with only 10% of loans in CD format – this seems to reflect a greater preference for the digital format, and a good awareness of the platforms that support this format. +  * 90% of audiobook loans were in digital format, with only 10% of loans in CD format – this seems to reflect a greater preference for the digital format, and a good awareness of the platforms that support this format. 
-• 62% of the audiobook stock available is eAudio compared to 38% on CD, all of which are for adults, so the higher digital loans may also reflect the greater range available. +  * 62% of the audiobook stock available is eAudio compared to 38% on CD, all of which are for adults, so the higher digital loans may also reflect the greater range available. 
-• There were still over 200 borrowers who regularly used the small CD collection despite the lower availability of titles in this format, indicating that for this minority, the preference for physical formats is still strong. +  * There were still over 200 borrowers who regularly used the small CD collection despite the lower availability of titles in this format, indicating that for this minority, the preference for physical formats is still strong. 
-• Phase out physical collection over time, transitioning toward predominantly digital provision. +  * Phase out physical collection over time, transitioning toward predominantly digital provision. 
-• Carefully monitor users still accessing physical collections and support them with small core collections, gradually decreasing over the next 3–5 years.+  * Carefully monitor users still accessing physical collections and support them with small core collections, gradually decreasing over the next 3–5 years.
    
    
 To answer your specific questions: To answer your specific questions:
    
-• How are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space?   +  * How are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space?   
-o Weed the collection heavily to reduce the collection footprint (maintaining a small collection of high demand items) while gradually decrease quantities of new stock coming in. +  * Weed the collection heavily to reduce the collection footprint (maintaining a small collection of high demand items) while gradually decrease quantities of new stock coming in. 
-• From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out. +  * From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out. 
-o We weed based on age and usage – not condition. If it doesn’t demonstrably meet customer needs, it goes. +  * We weed based on age and usage – not condition. If it doesn’t demonstrably meet customer needs, it goes. 
-• We are not in a position to sell at book sale (who would buy it anyway), as it is against our policy. +  * We are not in a position to sell at book sale (who would buy it anyway), as it is against our policy. 
-o We don’t have this as a policy, so permission is not an issue. As for who would buy it - when we discontinued our Junior spoken word collection, we emailed the remaining small number of customers using the collection and notified them. One customer requested to buy some of the withdrawn stock, and she bought most of them (or we may have just given them to her, I can’t recall). +  * We don’t have this as a policy, so permission is not an issue. As for who would buy it - when we discontinued our Junior spoken word collection, we emailed the remaining small number of customers using the collection and notified them. One customer requested to buy some of the withdrawn stock, and she bought most of them (or we may have just given them to her, I can’t recall). 
-• We do donate withdrawn LP to some of our nursing homes, and this is always popular – but nobody asks for spoken word. +  * We do donate withdrawn LP to some of our nursing homes, and this is always popular – but nobody asks for spoken word. 
-We could donate to a library service who needs a boost to their collection, especially a regional library +  * We could donate to a library service who needs a boost to their collection, especially a regional library 
-o Perhaps a location with unreliable/restricted internet access?  Remote libraries? Gaols?+  * Perhaps a location with unreliable/restricted internet access?  Remote libraries? Gaols?
    
 I hope that helps I hope that helps
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 I think these issues are pretty common amongst libraries, but i'd also be interested it anyone has unique ideas or solutions!  I think these issues are pretty common amongst libraries, but i'd also be interested it anyone has unique ideas or solutions! 
  
-• How are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space?+  * Unordered List ItemHow are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space?
 We rotate items between branches to give them new life.  We rotate items between branches to give them new life. 
 I also encourage staff who are responsible for putting up book displays to offer a variety of formats, titles, genres, etc.   The aim of this is to not just promote the new stuff, but things customers may not usually consider.  I also encourage staff who are responsible for putting up book displays to offer a variety of formats, titles, genres, etc.   The aim of this is to not just promote the new stuff, but things customers may not usually consider. 
  
-• From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out.+  * From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out.
 Decent collection owners/staff will try the above things first, before withdrawing/weeding.   Like you, we cannot sell the Audiobooks and so far none of our aged care facilities have requested donations of withdrawn books (but they have accepted withdrawn LP before! 'Tis interesting). Decent collection owners/staff will try the above things first, before withdrawing/weeding.   Like you, we cannot sell the Audiobooks and so far none of our aged care facilities have requested donations of withdrawn books (but they have accepted withdrawn LP before! 'Tis interesting).
  
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 There is also the issue for some of our home library members that they are unable to change the discs over to the new disc, especially if they are a resident of an aged care facility, and there is no person available to assist them - they can then lose interest.  We have not had any HLS members tell us that they have any difficulty with changing discs. We try not to send e.g. 12 discs. There is also the issue for some of our home library members that they are unable to change the discs over to the new disc, especially if they are a resident of an aged care facility, and there is no person available to assist them - they can then lose interest.  We have not had any HLS members tell us that they have any difficulty with changing discs. We try not to send e.g. 12 discs.
    
-• How are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space?  Regular weeding in collaboration with HLS librarian -Stack and Booksale +  * How are you all dealing with the stock that is not moving, and taking up, for some, valuable shelf space?  Regular weeding in collaboration with HLS librarian -Stack and Booksale 
-• From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out. +  * From a sustainability view, we cannot just withdraw stock that is in perfectly good condition and throw it out. 
-• We are not in a position to sell at booksale (who would buy it anyway), as it is against our policy. +  * We are not in a position to sell at booksale (who would buy it anyway), as it is against our policy. 
-• We do donate withdrawn LP to some of our nursing homes, and this is always popular – but nobody asks for spoken word. +  * We do donate withdrawn LP to some of our nursing homes, and this is always popular – but nobody asks for spoken word. 
-• We could donate to a library service who needs a boost to their collection, especially a regional library. After careful discussion with managers and leaders, I would be happy to be part of an exchange of audiobooks to boost collection/ fill gaps thus saving money.+  * We could donate to a library service who needs a boost to their collection, especially a regional library. After careful discussion with managers and leaders, I would be happy to be part of an exchange of audiobooks to boost collection/ fill gaps thus saving money. 
 Hi Sandra, Hi Sandra,
 Apologies for the late reply. I've been waiting for some feedback from the collections team. Apologies for the late reply. I've been waiting for some feedback from the collections team.
spoken_word_collections.1780469687.txt.gz · Last modified: 2026/06/03 01:54 by caroline.r