Media merging

Another indication of how book publishers are trying to tie in with other media, is the new "Gossip Girl" DVD. Most librarians know that the Gossip Girls first appeared in book form and later mutated into a TV show, but many young women who watch the show are unaware that it started life as a book. Now, according to the NY Times, the book publishers are trying to capture the attention of viewers by including an audio version of the book on the DVD of the show. Audio books have not been very popular with teens, but publishers are hoping to tap this market by producing podcasts. It's a move that librarians will want to watch. Will audio books become a larger part of the children's and YA collections in our libraries?