More ways to enjoy books

Back in 2011 the council launched eBooks which you download and read, whereas with eAudiobooks you download and listen to them.

The new eAudiobooks service is open to any library member who can easily join up and then choose from over 1,000 unabridged titles. These include great titles like Citadel by Kate Mosse, Standing in Another Man’s Grave by Ian Rankin, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. But it is not just fiction on offer. The eAudiobooks include biographies, health and wellbeing and many more. There are also titles for children and young people.

After choosing a title the next step is to download the eAudiobook directly onto a wide range of devices including mobile phones, tablets and MP3 players.

Clear instructions guide readers through the process. Once readers are signed up they can borrow the eAudiobooks wherever they are in the world, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

It is possible to borrow up to five eAudiobooks at a time for up to 21 days. After 21 days the eAudiobooks file will expire. They can be renewed or returned and there are no overdue charges to worry about. eAudiobooks have a host of features that may prove useful. For instance it is possible to slow down the speed at which the book is being read out to the listener.

During its first month over 100 people have already signed up and this new service is likely to grow in popularity like the eBook offer which now has almost 1000 borrowers every month.

Councillor Ellie Wilcox, Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:

“This is a welcome and exciting development in our libraries. People throughout the county will be able to browse and download the titles of their choice at a time to suit them. It will also help to build on the success of our eBook service by reaching those people who are unable to access library buildings or traditional books”.

More information about the scheme is available at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/libraries or from any Derbyshire County Council library.