Project 522
Many public library patrons are avid readers who enjoy content that is always available, with no wait lists. We learned during that pandemic that public domain eBooks by authors such as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens circulated well when offered under a simultaneous use license. Moreover, many of these eBooks are available to libraries at no charge.
OverDrive offers several thousand eBooks with its Duke Classics collection
Palace Project's free Open Bookshelf collection contains numerous public domain eBooks for which patrons do not have to wait
eAudio titles unfortunately are not well-represented however. The Duke Classics eAudio package includes only six and the Open Bookshelf currently has none.
Proposed solution:
Since the public's interest in eAudio is growing rapidly, Project 522 seeks to supplement the availability of eAudio titles libraries can offer their patrons with no waiting. The University of Washington iSchool Collection Development class (LIS 522) will curate a new collection, evaluating public domain eAudio titles available through Librivox with consideration for title popularity, cultural significance, recording quality, and representation.
When the first round of curation is complete, we will make the Project 522 collection available on OverDrive and Palace at no cost and announce the availability here on Readers First. Any library working with those distributors will be able to add the titles. We hope also to add to the collection over time and will announce updates here as well.