March is time to try out audiobooks

Audiobooks are enjoying a big upswing in popularity recently, thanks to more digital content accessible via smartphones.

The Wall Street Journal reported sales of audiobooks in the U.S. and Canada jumped 21 percent in 2015 and was equally strong last year. What is even more significant, however, is the increase in the number of audiobooks being consumed.

In 2016, audiobook consumers listened to an average of 6.7 audiobooks in the past year. At Washington-Centerville Public Library, patrons checked out nearly 115,000 audios last year, a 5 percent increase over the year prior. Indeed, audiobooks appeal to today’s mobile and active society.

Given their popularity, it’s not surprising that the Library has just added yet another format to the audiobook lineup — MP3 CDs. These CDs offer great audio quality without the chunkiness of a traditional audiobooks. Thanks to greatly compressed audio files, most MP3 CD books can fit on a single CD, unlike the eight-10 CDs typical of a traditional CD book. Plus an MP3 CD can be downloaded to your phone or other device, offering greater listening options.

The Library now offers four different audio options:

• Traditional CD books

• MP3 CD books

• Playaways

• Digital audiobooks.

In March you can access even more downloadable audiobooks via Hoopla. In a special “double download” promotion, the Library has doubled the number of audios each patron can download, from 10 to 20. Hoopla audiobooks are always available, meaning no wait lists, and automatically check themselves back in, meaning no overdue fines. In short, it’s a great month to give audiobooks a try, whether it is in the new MP3 CD format or a downloadable audio.

For more information on Washington-Centerville Public Library and the audiobook collection, go online to www.wclibrary.info.

Georgia Mergler is community relations manager of the Washington-Centerville Public Library. She can be contacted by email at GMergler@wcpl.lib.oh.us.

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