Books on the Nightstand discussion

I'm fairly new here and I rarely post because I worry about not being able to keep up with the discussions. However the more I see posts and hear about audiobooks on the podcasts the more questions I have. I'm a die hard physical book fan. I love everything about a physical book. I rarely read an ebook and I find that I just never catch on to it and abandon it. With that being said I have listened to audiobooks and they are usually of books that I have already read physically. I'm curious as to if anyone still uses the CD audiobooks or is that outdated now with downloading being so prevalent. I have yet to upgrade to having a AUX radio that will allow me to play anything on my phone in my car which is where I'd mainly listen to an audiobook aside from when I go to bed at night. Also do you prefer Audible to iTunes? Or does it matter?

Personally, I don't think any of it matters- Audible/iTunes or CD/Digital download- it really depends on You. I draw my line at cassette since I don't have a device to play them on, and I just recently rediscovered my library (physical and digital) I'm over the moon about the selection!

However, if your looking for bargains and the library doesn't' cut it for you Cd's might be the way to go, although I have never had an Audible account and can't speak from experience. (Me and Apple just don't get along...)

I don't like Apple either :-) So I don't know about Itunes, but I love my Audible subscribtion! I listen to the audiobooks on my telephone while driving, shopping, doing laundry etc. They'll refund ones you don't like - up to a limit - and you can listen to samples to see, if you like the narrator.

CDs are so expensive to buy, audible is the only way to go for me. I actually used to rent them from Recorded Books. Like Netflix except you get a big box.

I even think Audible is too expensive. I borrow CD's for the car from the public library. Phoenix Public has an excellent selection and if they don't have what I want on CD they usually have it available as an MP3 or WMA download. If it's MP3 I listen on my iPhone and if it's WMA, I have a Sandisk Sansa Clip that I transfer to. Then there is another library service called OneClick Audio that I really like...it's through Recorded Books and though I'm not sure exactly how it works, their entire catalog is usually available. I go there when I want something that has a long hold. I really urge you to get to know your public library...if it's decent size, chances are they have a lot to offer that most people don't know about.

I use the overdrive app on my phone to "check out" audiobooks from my local library. I have library cards for three different libraries so I get a pretty good selection.

Can you browse with the Overdrive app and have it download the files directly to your device?

I've used Overdrive to borrow mp3s from the library, but I've always dl'd the files onto my computer and then transferred them to my phone.

I am in the market for a new source of audiobooks. I have used B&N in the past, but their website seems to be getting worse for me. I can never find anything I'm looking for, there's no information about how long the audiobook is, you can't search for unabridged vs abridged... it's very frustrating. I've thought about using audible, but (not to bring this whole thing up again) it's owned by amazon, and I would really like not to have to buy books through them.

Am I doomed?

I also use Audible on my phone and listen while I drive, do laundry, and knit.

I do everything with overdrive on my phone but I recommend downloading while you're on wifi unless you have unlimited data or something...

I download mp3 or WAV audiobooks from Overdrive. Like Marchelle, I belong to 3 library systems, and it works great. I listen on my ipod or iphone. Every now and then I need to get the CDs as the audiobook is not available for download in the library system. But since I listen to everything for free, have no complaints.

Digital dnloads are the fastest growing segment of the audiobook market, projected to take over the CD share within the next very few years. More titles are available, and sometimes sooner on the digital dnload platforms than in physical copy.

- Audible has the largest selection, the most exclusives, and competitive pricing.
- iTunes gets their audiobook content from Audible but does not carry the exclusives.
- Overdrive is dominant in the library systems and carries titles from all audiobook publishers except Audible and Recorded Books - the latter of which is distributed through One-Click (another digital distribution platforms for libraries.) Titles in the OverDrive system change out according to circulation numbers and OD also carries ePub books. In some library systems, I've heard that the OD audiobook selection has become smaller, the platform favoring the more popular eBooks.
- I haven't seen One-Click as my library system can only afford one platform and they went with OverDrive.

There are other digital dnload platforms, but invariably, they simply do not carry the selection and pricing that Audible does. Audible and OD have apps for both Android and Apple products. I'm not sure about One-Click, eMusic or Downpour. There are also streaming channels, but I haven't tried them.

I'm sure that Audible does have the best selection but there is enough out there available for free that if you don't want to pay for content, you probably don't need to. For example, every summer Sync offers some free downloads to encourage YA readers and they never expire. All you have to do is keep your eyes (and ears) open.

Callie wrote: "Can you browse with the Overdrive app and have it download the files directly to your device?

I've used Overdrive to borrow mp3s from the library, but I've always dl'd the files onto my computer a..."<

Yes you can browse w/the Overdrive app! It's not as easy as with the computer for me, but I put together a wish list so I don't have to browse that much with my phone.

Eric wrote: "CDs are so expensive to buy, audible is the only way to go for me. I actually used to rent them from Recorded Books. Like Netflix except you get a big box."

I've found a few places where I can get the CD's cheap, usually at discount book stores like Book Warehouse.

I'm big on borrowing from the library for both me and my husband. I use the CDs in the car. My husband puts his books on his computer then downloads it to his iPod.
Since I usually know when I'm going to "need" an audio book, I will decide ahead of time what I want and if my library doesn't have it, I will request it through interlibrary loan.
I recently looked at an Audible ad, but I thought it was too expensive for the few books that we would need it for. I only listen when I'm in the car and most of my driving is around out small town.
My library also has smaller players that I can't remember what they call, that contain the entire book. I have used those also with my old car.

Are those the playaways Linda?

Yeah! That's the word, Janet!

I still borrow books on CD from the library and listen to them both on a portable CD player around the house or when I'm walking outside, or in the car. I have an iPhone and an iPod Touch but have never been able to successfully download library audiobooks. It's probably time to give it another try since I'm going on vacation soon and would like to listen to books while I'm away and using the digital device would be preferable. Maybe the technology has improved.

Linda, FYI, I signed up for Audible Light. I pay a flat rate each year (very low) and then have access to all the books they list--at their top price. I'm obligated to buy nothing. I find myself OFTEN shopping the occasional sales and get VERY long books for under $6.00. In this fashion over the past seven or eight years I've acquired a very nice library. Just thought I'd share. Audible doesn't advertise the Audible Light membership plan. I got it after I withdrew from the original membership plan. I love it!

Jan wrote: "Linda, FYI, I signed up for Audible Light. I pay a flat rate each year (very low) and then have access to all the books they list--at their top price. I'm obligated to buy nothing. I find myself..."

Thanks, Jan. I'll look into it.

This is the first time that I have heard of audible light so I assume its not readily available

Wanted to add that I love audible do I probably won't hear about Audible light for a while.

I checked out Audible Light and it is only available to existing Audible gold or platinum members who wish to downgrade.

Ahhhh! Thanks, Gail. I better not let it go! (I would love a regular membership with the "onerous" requirement to buy a book a month!)

These are all pretty interesting. I'm going to look into the Overdrive app. I've never heard of it and I wonder if my library uses it. I have an Audible's account and I've used the free credit that they give. I'm just wondering if I'm not going to be using audiobooks that much if it is worth it. Thank you guys for all the suggestions!

Thanks for the tip regarding Overdrive! I will have to look into this.

I also use SimplyAudioBooks which is a pretty good service for audio books on CD or via download.

Thanks and enjoy!

I am an audiobook junkie. I love Audible, Overdrive, OneClick, library CDs; I use them all frequently. I do have a word of warning about using ITunes for audiobooks-if you want to relisten to an audiobook (which I often do) make sure to create a backup copy of any purchased from iTunes. Audiobooks once downloaded cannot be redownloaded from the cloud. I learned this the hard way with two Tana French titles. Audible is by far the easiest platform I have used for digital downloads.

I just wanted to thank whoever mentioned the Overdrive app. It is PERFECT. I've gotten memberships to a couple of different libraries, and the process is so easy. I love it. I wish the catalogs were more extensive, but that's a minor complaint.

Callie, how did you get multiple library memberships? I thought you could only join (for free anyway) your local library?

Victoria- I have a membership with my town library (in NH). I also have a membership with the Boston Public Library, because I work in MA. The BPL offers memberships to people who work in MA (as well as students).

I like AUDIBLE but have never used iTunes for buying books. I do listen to AUDIBLE books on ITUNES and that's an ok experience.

Victoria wrote: "Callie, how did you get multiple library memberships? I thought you could only join (for free anyway) your local library?"

I have 7 library cards at the moment in Ohio (8 if I count the one I have for the university library where I work). All are legal and used.

I only have 1 library membership at the moment but it's really all I need. Phoenix has a great library system. I have had multiples in the past and I even had one that I had to pay for when I lived in New Jersey. I was appalled that I had to pay for it and muttered "whatever happened to the free public library?"

Thanks for the info. I already have access to all the libraries in MD through the MD library consortium (however that works because i just log in to my county library when using it) and the county where I work in VA appears to require a lot of proof. Nothing from my work location suffices-our badges have no address, our pay stubs only reference our headquarters address out of state. So I guess I'll be sticking with what I have!