A picture book becomes animated with the iVOX app.
ANDY BELL-BALTACI | DAILY JOURNAL
A new mobile app is turning picture books into interactive experiences for some of the county’s younger readers.
The Greenwood Public Library introduced the iVOX app at the beginning of the year, including 25 books patrons can check out. The library unveiled the app to readers following the successful introduction of physical VOX books, which include picture books and non-fiction offerings, mostly for younger children. The books include an audio component built into them, so readers can play, pause or rewind the spoken words as they read along, said Katie Friedericks, children’s librarian at the library.
The library learned about the VOX books through other library systems that had also ordered them, such as the Johnson County Public Library and Indianapolis Public Library, she said.
“They’ve been really popular. … There’s an audiobook built in but they can be returned to the book drop. We’ve had no issues with the technology,” Friedericks said. “We have some books about animals (and) science. We have bilingual VOX books — we have a pretty big selection of those.”
VOX books also include Spanish, German, French, Arabic, Korean, Tagalog, Russian and Mandarin for foreign language learners, she said.
Given the success of the books, the library started offering books on the iVOX app earlier this year. Greenwood library patrons can choose from 25 books, including numerous picture books and books for preschool and elementary school students about various animals. Those titles include “The Lochness Monster,” “Wolverine vs. Honey Badger,” “I Love You Too, I Love You Three” and award-winning “Cloud Chase,” among others.
The app won the 2021 National Parenting Product award for Best Apps for Kids and Families, and the 2021 Mom’s Choice Award for Best Apps and Software, according to a Greenwood Public Library news release.
When a patron downloads the iVOX app, available for both iPhone and Android users, they will be asked for their library card number, after which they can open a book on their phones. The app displays the words with audio and images, and the pages come to life, with moving images rising from the book in the form of animation. The app also allows multiple people to check out a book for simultaneous usage, Friedericks said.
The Johnson County Public Library is also planning to unveil the iVOX app soon, though digital services manager Erin Kirchoff didn’t specify a date. The library also offers more than 200 VOX books, she said in an email.
“The iVOX titles are a combination of e-books, audiobooks and virtual pop-ups, allowing kids to follow the stories while interacting with 3D scenes and characters,” Kirchhoff said. “A great feature is that books can be downloaded and listened to at home, in the car, anywhere they’d like.”
