Hillsborough’s library, a branch of the Somerset County Library System, has begun lending Playaway, a digital audio book unit loaded with selected popular titles.
Half the size of a deck of cards, Playaway is a digital audio player pre-loaded with content. The entire unit plus the content is loaned out to patrons. Each unit can hold up to 80 hours of high-definition audio content, allowing even the longest books to be listened to easily on one unit.
’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 listeners last left off.
Playaway has a universal headphone jack that works with almost any type of headphone or mobility accessory.
Playaway View, a digital video player with a 3.5-inch screen, is also available, with content focused on children’s titles. The unit, featuring an LCD viewing screen, holds up to six hours of viewable content.
”Playaway’s simple functionality and immediate usability separate it from other audio book formats,” said Edward Hoag, director of the Hillsborough Library. “With Playaway, our patrons can enjoy best-selling content with first-rate digital audio.”
The Somerset County Library System has a variety of subjects and genres, including many selections for children, language-learning programs, classics and best-selling adult fiction. Because the Playaway format is friendly for listeners of all ages, every patron can enjoy the new format.
The Hillsborough Library collection includes “One Summer” by David Baldacci; “Now You See Her” by James Patterson and “Trader of Secrets” by Steve Martini.
For information about Playaway at the Hillsborough Library, contact 908-369-2200 or visit www.sclsnj.org.
Patrons with questions can call the library system at 908-369-2200 or enter the website at http://www.sclsnj.org.
The county library system has nine branches, including Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, Rocky Hill, North Plainfield, Peapack-Gladstone, Somerville, Warren Township and Watchung.

