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Ode to Audio Books During Audio Book Month

June is Audio Book Month! So many books, so little time. From books on tape, to books on CD, to the latest format Play-away…

I love to read and have enjoyed the activity – or is it inactivity – my whole life. As my life has become more hectic, whenever I sit down to read I fall asleep, making it hard to keep up with all the interesting books I’d like to read. So I was happy to discover audio books: they allow me to “read” without having to sit down. I can “read” while doing boring housework and when working in the yard. Some people listen to audio books when commuting or traveling.

I recently enjoyed listening to an old favorite, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  The audio book experience was just as intense as reading the print version and seeing it as a movie.

Technology on the move…

Just like videocassettes, audio cassettes are being phased out; but we do still have many audio books available in this format. Our collection of books on CD continues to grow and we have started getting books on Play-away. A Play-away is an audio book on a small MP3 player. They’re great: you don’t need to have your own player to listen; all you need is a set of earphones, or ear buds, to plug into the device and you can play-away…(there are ear buds available for sale at the AV and reference desks).

You can also download audio books, come in and talk to the AV department or give them a call, at 781-314-3425 X5, for specifics. If you’re a resident of Waltham and want to start downloading right away, you can do that from home.

Thanks to audio books, where reading used to be a solo activity it can now be one of many activities.   Of course I do, on occasion, still sit down to read, being sure to set my alarm first…just in case…zzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !!!

posted by Jeanette

2 Comments »

  1. Comment by Deb
    May 29, 2009 @ 10:56 am

    I totally agree! Great blog, Jeanette! I haven’t got time to sit still and read, but my truck “reads” to me for almost 2 hours while I drive here and home every day!

  2. Comment by Gerry
    June 1, 2009 @ 8:10 pm

    Ditto from me too! No commercials like when you listen to the radio. I love audiobooks for driving in the car and I agree the new play-aways are great for walking and gardening. Our AV department has lots to choose from.

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