Each Palm-Sized Unit is Permanently Loaded with an Audio Book to Make Listening as Simple as Pressing Play.

Beginning February 12, the Tacoma Public Library will begin offering Playaway - the first self-playing digital audio book - at all eight libraries, adding the innovative HD Audio digital format to their existing audiobook collection.

Half the size of a deck of cards, Playaway is the simplest and best way to listen to a book on the go and - with no tapes or CDs - can hold up to eighty hours of HD Audio content on each unit. With every title recorded in HD Audio, Playaway's audio quality is unsurpassed. Using clearly marked buttons, Playaway gives listeners the ability to move back and forth within or between chapters and alter the speed of a narrator's voice. It even has an automatic bookmark feature that remembers where you left off. Additionally, Playaway has a universal headphone jack that works with almost any type of headphone or mobility accessory.

"Playaway's simple functionality and immediate usability separate it from other audio book formats," said Susan Odencrantz, the director of the Tacoma Public Library. "With Playaway, our patrons can enjoy best-selling content with first-rate digital audio." Each library will have a collection of Adult, Juvenile and Teen Playaways.

Playaway titles at the library include many selections for children, language learning programs, bestselling adult fiction, and classics. And because the Playaway format is friendly for listeners of all ages, every patron can enjoy the new format. The Tacoma Public Library's collection includes such titles as:  
Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Milennium Trilogyby Stieg Larsson
West of Hereby Jonathan Evison
Roomby Emma Donoghue
Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
The Confessionby John Grisham
The Reversal by Michael Connelly
Happily Ever After by Nora Roberts
Fall of Giantsby Ken Follett
Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

Join Library staff and Playaway representatives for a free launch party with balloons, giveaways, raffle drawings and other surprises to celebrate the arrival of these new audio books on Saturday, February 12 & Monday, February 14 at various library locations.

Saturday, Feb. 12th
Swasey Library      10 a.m. - Noon

Moore Library        1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Kobetich Library     4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 14th
Main Library            2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.