Random Thoughts

I listen to a lot ton of audio books. Most I listen to from start to finish. Some I give 15-30 minutes then turn them off. I probably buy 20% of the books that I “read” with my ears. My preferred source is Amazon.com since I can often buy used Audiobooks for less than an Audible.com download.  Plus, when I’m finished I can donate the audio book to my library for others to enjoy. (Click here to search Amazon’s audio book selection.) I only use Audible when I absolutely must have a book now! Personally, I’m not crazy about the quality of the download (probably because I listen at high speed.)  So where do I get free audio books?

The vast majority of my audio books are borrowed from the public library!  Yes, the public library. That place I would visit almost every day during my childhood summers to browse the books.    My library is part of a group of more than a dozen libraries in my county that share an on-line catalog system and willingly transfer books from one branch to another.  I simple search the online catalog across all libraries, find an audio book that I’m interested in and place a hold.  I can monitor my place on the hold list by checking my account page.  Books are delivered to my local branch and a receive an automated phone call letting me know I can pick it up.  It is awesome.   My library also subscribes to two download services so many additional titles are available for download through Netlibrary or Overdrive.

I’ve heard of websites that offer free audio book downloads.  Typically they are of books in the public domain with less than professional level recordings.   I’ll stick to the library and Amazon.

Support your library.  Donate your used audio book CDs.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 14th, 2007 at 4:32 pm and is filed under Audiobooks, iPod. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.