Sutherland Shire Libraries Staff News

Have you heard any good stories lately? Why not try an audio book? Whether they are Playaways, CD kits or downloaded from Overdrive, they’re great to listen to. I know Max has just been running refresher courses about Overdrive, so here are some tips and ideas about when and why to download audio books.
When you first try audio books, it’s a good idea is to pick something easy to listen to, in a genre you enjoy. Some books are better than others to listen to than others and your experience can be affected by factors including the narrator, whether the title is abridged and how long the story is. The narrator makes all the difference when listening to an audio book. You can have a great listening experience if you get a good narrator. You need to enjoy the narrators speaking voice, accent and the expression they use when reading. Some narrators voices also provide better clarity than others, which can also affect the listening experience. Some well known readers and actors narrate audio books really well, so look out for them. The time it will take to listen to a story is always available, so you know how much time you will need to commit to listening. Perhaps selecting a shorter title would be a good idea to start, until you get used to using this format. Some titles are abridged, which some people prefer, as they are quicker to read and enable you to get the essence of the story in less time.

Audio books are portable, you can use them anytime, anywhere, and can be borrowed for free from the library. Using Overdrive has the advantage of never worrying about titles being overdue. There is a really wide variety of titles available, including non fiction, and there is often less time to wait for popular new titles.
They are appropriate for all ages and different types of people, particularly the visually impaired. They are useful if you have insomnia or tired eyes. Reluctant readers may enjoy listening to a story, rather than reading it, and this method may encourage them to try reading a print book in the future. They still hear the language structure, the grammar and phrasing used in the writing. Audio books are a good alternative for those concerned about the environment, as they save trees.

Here are some ideas of when and where to listen to an audiobooks:

Listen when you are ironing, housecleaning, painting, sewing, gardening, vacuuming or shopping, to pass the time and make these activities more pleasant.
If you are convalescing, sick, or it’s a cold winter night and you don’t want your hands to get cold holding a book while lying in bed.
Listen while you’re on holidays, relaxing on the beach or by the pool.
In the car if you are travelling, or commuting, everyone can listen, and it’s a great alternative to the radio.
If you get bored exercising, you can listen while walking/ jogging on the treadmill, on the road, or in the pool. Even while using an exercise bike. Listen while hiking or out bike riding.
Why not ask your book group members if they would like to try one?
In fact, why not challenge yourself, and try and download an audiobook from Overdrive? Pick something light and easy, so it doesn’t matter if you miss a beat if you are multitasking. Then, why not post a blog about your experience on “Check it Out”. Hands on experience means you will be more confident in recommending this service to customers, so they too can listen to what they have been missing out on.