Audiobooks bring new dimension to novels

"I love audiobooks," he said. "For me, the audio version of a book is like hearing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony rather than reading the score. Hearing the book makes it come alive."

He went on to say, "I was an English major in college but I realize now I never really enjoyed leisure reading as much as I do now. Perhaps it's because I am a slow reader. My wife can read four times faster than I can read or listen and she does not share my enthusiasm for audiobooks."

Tom Kern, library director of the Wauconda Area Library, used his experience and enthusiasm for audiobooks as a springboard for offering a range of formats available to library patrons.

Early in 2005, when downloadable audiobooks were new, Kern wrote a grant proposal, funded by the Illinois State Library with federal Library Services and Technology Act dollars. The idea was to experiment with a variety of downloadable audiobook formats.

One of the first strategies Kern used was to join the MyMediaMall and NetLibrary consortia offered by the North Suburban Library System. Together these digital book collections offer access to more than 4,300 audiobook titles, with more added monthly. To take advantage of these collections, one needs a PC and a valid library card from a participating library.

To find out if your library is participating in MyMediaMall and to get a look at the collection, visit www.mymediamall.net. You'll have to check your library's Web site to see if they carry the NetLibrary collection.

With minimal instruction, books can be enjoyed on your PC or a compatible MP3 player (sorry, iPods don't work here) for the duration of the loan, usually about two weeks. You don't even have to go to the library to download your book or worry about returning it. When it's due, it disappears!

"The MyMediaMall and NetLibary consortia were created just in time for our grant," Kern said. "Thanks to the buying power of a larger group, we were able to make our grant dollars go much further."

Kern also purchased a number of Playaway books, which are one audiobook on a device about the size of a deck of cards with headphones. Borrowers simply put on the headphones and start listening. "Playaways are a great way to get started with audiobooks," Kern said. "The control buttons are very clear and easy to use. We have about 60 Playaways, some for all ages. They are hugely popular with our borrowers."

Next, Kern capitalized on the popularity of the iPod to purchase about a dozen and load each of them with a collection of audiobooks purchased and downloaded from audible.com.

Library users borrow the iPod with 10 to 14 books already preloaded. "Each iPod has a theme," he said. "For example one is loaded with Bestsellers 2007. Another is Mysteries and another is Romance. Some even include author interviews along with their audiobooks.

"The idea is to lure library users to try audiobooks and discover what an incredible medium it is. Audiobook publishers and producers employ professional narrators or even well-known actors for recording. They are easy to understand but they use their dramatic training to enhance the listening experience. Sometimes the authors themselves are the readers and that adds a new dimension, too."

Right now Kern is "reading" Roald Dahl's "Going Solo," the author's autobiography from World War II, along with "Lone Survivor" and "The Preacher and the Presidents." His personal iPod is loaded with these and a dozen other audiobooks he plans to "read" soon.

Check at your library for downloadable audiobooks and discover this new way to read.