Do you think audio books are only for children who can’t read or for older people who are losing their vision? Think again. Audio books allow you to read while you do something else: walk, exercise, ride a bike, housework (ouch – I hate that word!). Just don’t take them in the swimming pool with you! Allen County Public Library offers audio books for all age levels and in several different formats. I mostly check out books on cd because I listen to them in my car while I drive.
We also have Playaways that are basically MP3 players with one pre-recorded book on each Playaway. They check out like any other three week item and all you need is a triple A battery and a set of ear buds. Not every branch has them, so check the catalog for locations if this is what you want.
I’m sure you know we have ebooks, but have you checked out our downloadable audio books? You can search with any number of categories: genre, age level, fiction/non-fiction. You can choose to download them in MP3 or WMA format. Just like the ebooks, downloadable audiobooks check out for up to three weeks and return automatically with no late fees. They can also be returned early. There are over 1100 audio books that come up under adult non-fiction with new titles being added every day.
I love listening to audiobooks. They make my trips in the car so much better. They are really great if I am listening to a book set in a foreign location. I get to hear how words are pronounced and it makes it easier when I actually see the words in print.