Getting Started

Playaway in your Library

The more your patrons are aware of Playaway, the faster your Playaways will circulate. Use our FREE Circulation Station marketing materials and the tips below to help drive awareness and circulation of your Playaway collection.

Tips:

• Customize posters and tri-fold brochures; hang near the Playaway collection, at the entrance to the audiobook section of your library, and near the circulation desk.
• Give your staff Playaways on lanyards to wear to generate
  word of mouth
• Use Playaway wallpaper on your computers to raise awareness
• Update your website to include a page about the Playaway format
• Hold a Playaway Day with help from your Playaway sales rep (includes staff training and product demonstrations with patrons)

Playaway in your Community

Showcase your library's innovation and commitment to meeting the needs of all patrons with a story featuring Playaway. Your community can see their tax dollars at work through a story featuring several patrons who have gained simple and immediate access to books through Playaway. Whether it's a visually impaired patron who has lost the ability to read, an ESL student gaining fluency through a convenient audiobook format, or simply occasional audiobook listeners who have become frequent listeners, there are several success stories waiting to be told.

Tips:

• Use our press release template to grab the attention of local publications
• Utilize our custom-made newsletter ad in your print or email communications
• Contact your local television station about a segment on Playaway
• Hang posters in your rec center and senior center to share with the community what's new at the library

Tips on Circulating

Earbuds + Batteries

We're often asked how most libraries manage the circulation of earbuds and batteries for their Playaways. Although we've heard just about everything, the majority of libraries circulate their Playaways without a battery or earbuds and simply communicate that they are not included with circulation, but can be purchased at the circulation desk if needed.

That being said, there are still a fair share of libraries committed to delivering the complete service to patrons—a fresh battery and a new pair of earbuds with every circulation.

Whether it's one of these solutions or somewhere in between, our ultimate recommendation is that you do whatever you feel is best for your staff and your patrons.

Expand Playaway's Usability with Car Adaptors

If your library is located in a big commuter city, we encourage you to try circulating a few car adaptors to complement your Playaway collection. From audio cables to cassette adaptors, we have several options that allow patrons to listen to their Playaways through car speakers.

Check out the accessories section for car adaptors, portable speakers and other mobility options to give your patrons the ability to listen just about anywhere.

Security

Playaways can be used with almost any security system without interfering with the audio quality. If you browse our services section, you'll find several options to lock or secure your Playaways, from 3M Tattle Tape to One-Time Locking Clips.

How To Play

Web Tutorials

• View the How-to-Play Demo (Opens in popup)
• Download the How-to-Play Demo (Zipped SWF)

Printable Tutorials

• Download How-to-Play PDF
• Download Large Print How-to-Play PDF