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The Kitchen Table

Free audio book downloads from your library

17 years ago

I've mentioned this subject before, but thought it was worth bringing up again for those who might not have seen it the first time.

My library offers audio books online that can be downloaded to an MP3 player (not iPods, though). I believe this is a state initiative that my local library hooks into. The selection of books is much larger than what's available at the library, and you can even renew them online.

I've downloaded quite a few audio books. Right now I'm enjoying working my way through the JD Robb "in Death" series of mysteries. With a $10 cassette adapter from Walmart, I can play them through my car stereo.

I don't imagine Pennsylvania is the only state library to offer this service.

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Comments (10)

liz
17 years ago
glad you're enjoying the JD Robb series...I just finished the last one...I'm old school...just like having a book in my hand! I do love it that I can logon and reserve books from my library...I woulda never gotten the newest Robb book otherwise!
alisande
Original Author
17 years ago
I like books in my hand, too (which is good, since I work in a library), but I'm in the car for 1.5 hours every work day, and listening to a book makes the drive more pleasant. We don't get much talk radio around here. I love music, but sometimes I like to listen to something that engages my interest.
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I live with my audio books and little CD player at my side! My days are filled with blocks of "mindless chores" time and that's when the books really shine. At first I did have to "train my brain" to let the audio book be the foreground and the focus, and the folding laundry/food prep/cleaning/dusting/putting away tasks became the background 'noise.' Once I made that change in my "mental wiring" I totally enjoy the books. One day I folded and put away three loads of laundry, changed the bed linens, and damp mopped three floors...without realizing it. I had been so focused on the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) book I was "reading" I hadn't noticed my "must do" list had shrunk. Just this past weekend I bought unabridged copies of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo; The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I can't wait to start listening to them. Getting the fall cleaning and season switching done will be a breeze this year! Right now I'm lisening to Spencer Quinn's third "Chet and Bernie" book To Fetch a Thief.
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I've been reading audiobooks almost exclusively since 1982 through the US National Library Service's Talking Books program, and all of their narrators are top-notch. Very occasionally there is someone with an accent I find harder to follow but the problems created by unusual accents are never so severe that I stop reading a book. My impression of commercial audio books is that they tend to be jazzed up with (a) background music and (b) narrators who assume different "voices" for the various characters. I prefer just the book, read in a straightforward way. But I do wish sometimes that the readers would make it clear where a quotation begins and ends, maybe by saying "Quote" and "End quote."
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lindyluwho
17 years ago
DD has been downloading children's literature to her Ipod for Erica (4 y/o) to listen to and Erica loves it. I think some came from her library and there are some site online that have free downloads. There are some others that charge a fee.

Linda
lisa_fla
17 years ago
They offer it here in Orlando, plus free delivery of library books!
gwanny2three
17 years ago
I wish I could pay attention to one. I find myself drifting off and not listening after awhile. I love to have the book in my hand also. Sure would be nice though to have it read to me...just too many distractions for me. I do love to read though......
User
17 years ago
I love audiobooks, thats all I listen to in the car. I joined the paperback swap and get my audiobooks free (except for postage) Come join, get your books, tapes, cd's & dvds free.

Here is a link that might be useful: PBSwap
iowagirl2006
17 years ago
They have that at our library. Same thing with it not working on iPods - and some certain types of MP3 players - which included mine, dang it! It had to do with digital media rights and some types of players.

I think they may have changed things since I last tried though - might even work on iPods now.

Ours is called WILBOR
LorifromUtah
17 years ago
My library offers this service through the Utah State Library.
It's very popular.

I think your library needs to update information available to you as one can download titles to an iPod. Each week more titles are added to the list.

Lori
teresava
17 years ago
I would love to download mine to an iPod when I am walking.

When I first got out of college I had a job where I scanned documents a good portion of the day. I got so good at it that I barely had to pay attention and could listen to Books on Tape. I used to go to the library each weekend and stock up on them! It was GREAT!
alisande
Original Author
17 years ago
My library just redid the whole website, adding a video to show people how to do the download. It explains that the system won't work with iPods because the books are Windows Media files.

My DS gave me a new mp3 player as a Christmas gift, one with a larger capacity. It's rechargeable. However, a charge won't last the length of a book, and when I plug it back in to the USB hub to charge it, the book reverts to the beginning. So I'm back to using my first mp3 player, which runs on a battery and works just fine.

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