Audio Books?

[Chili327]

Where is the best place to get them?
Does Apple have them? Does it make it easier if I have iPhone or no biggie...
IF you use Audio Books, what do you use?

Does Apple Music or Apple TV help with anything?

 

[TippyThomas]

I get mine from my local library through their online portal.

 

[Chili327]

I get mine from my local library through their online portal.

I was just looking into something called "Libby", sounds like a good way to go, & supports my local library.

 

[TippyThomas]

I was just looking into something called "Libby", sounds like a good way to go, & supports my local library.

My library uses Libby as well. I'd start there if I were you, because there is zero extra cost involved. If you find something you want that the library doesn't have access to, you could go another route with a pay service then. Also, my library has a way to request titles they do not have, so that's an option as well.

 

[RDR_BU]

I get my audiobooks through Amazon Kindle unlimited.

 

[Chili327]

I get my audiobooks through Amazon Kindle unlimited.

Can you listen to them (audio) or just read?

 

[NotUrsula]

Libby is an app; the company that provides the books is called Overdrive. The libraries pay them for audiobook and ebook content for patrons to check out. If you like using the service, be sure to vote in favor if your library system has a millage issue on the ballot in a local election, because Overdrive service is expensive to purchase, and usage of it has skyrocketed since the pandemic. This year a lot of libraries I know have been forced to reduce the number of holds and titles that each patron can have at any given time, because they just can't afford to put any additional money into the service to cover increased popularity. (Tip about this: go ahead and check out anything that looks interesting on this platform, and just return it early if the first couple of chapters are not to your taste. Borrowing statistics are used to gauge how much library patrons want and use this service, and how much content to license, so if you want more money spent to give you a better selection, be a more active borrower and place a lot of holds. This is for Libby/Overdrive only. Also another tip: the advanced search function on the desktop Overdrive site is better than in the Libby app, so if you are trying to search by genre, etc. and not having good luck, try it on a computer rather than on a phone or tablet. Anything checked out while using a computer will still appear for reading/listening on your phone or tablet.)

Many libraries also offer the HooplaDigital service, which also offers music albums and video content in addition to ebooks and audiobooks. Hoopla has a different usage model than Overdrive, and is generally not quite as expensive because you can set the collection not to include really popular US titles. There is a lot of content on this platform that was published in Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and as Overdrive gets more popular and ends up with wait times fueled by demand, Hoopla's non-US authors are getting discovered by Americans. There is some really good stuff out there that Overdrive doesn't have, so if your library offers Hoopla, do give it a try. (One warning though; the selection on Hoopla is best in the morning. Their model does allow the Library to set a daily limit on the overall number of checkouts a system can allow in one day, and in many places lately, demand is causing that threshold to be hit by late afternoon, at which point nothing else may be borrowed by that Library's patrons until the system resets at midnight. For Hoopla, the library is charged a usage fee each time a title is checked out, rather than paying a flat collection fee based on what books are in the chosen selection, and patrons are subject to a total monthly borrowing limit, rather than the simultaneous borrowing limit that Overdrive has. So for Hoopla, best to only borrow things you really think you'll like. One other thing: while it is by no means the bulk of what is offered there, Hoopla includes a large selection of so-called "Christian Fiction", which is classed that way because the titles frequently include mentions of faith. A lot of readers also like using this particular limiter to search for romance fiction because there is also no explicit sex or profanity in those titles. )

 

[tx911]

I use Audible. I have Libby but haven't used.

 

[nene0182]

I use Libby. I also have Amazon Music which gives 1 free audible book per month.

 

[Travel60]

Another Libby user here. We also buy Audible credits and use them for newer books.

 

[buzzrelly]

I use Libby and Hoopla. Both are connected to my library account and both are free. Hoopla seems to have less current bestsellers but when they do have a book it’s more available than Libby. I always have to waitlist books on Libby.

 

[WDWDCLDLFAN]

I use Audible. I love it. You can pause/cancel at any time, then restart your account any time. I buy all of my audio books so I’m able to listen to them via the Audible app whether I have an active account or not.

Audible also lets you return a book if you don’t like it. I’ve used that feature a few times over the years.

 

[disneychrista]

I used my local library to get all my books (audio, kindle and physical books). They use Libby and Hoppla for their audio books. I will generally have an audio book that I listen to while I am driving & walking. I stick to non-fiction type books for audio books.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I almost exclusively use audiobooks.

I use CloudLibrary and Hoopla through my local public library (had both in our Chicago suburb town and now in our central Florida town).

We also have an Audible account that my husband and I share. We have completely different tastes in books, so its recommendations are...interesting...to say the least. Audible also has free audiobooks as part of it.

 

[DanceDisney23]

I used Audible but cancelled my subscription last year. The subscription model was what annoyed me. $15 a month for a new credit whether I got a book or not, the audiobooks I wanted were often less expensive than that so I bought them for cash to not “lose” money, and so the credits just piled up in my account.

I got an online membership to the library and get my audiobooks there now. I might have to wait a bit for the one I want but it’s free.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We have a family Audible account, and DS and I both use it quite a bit, DH occasionally (he prefers reading e-books.)

I really should learn how to use Libby as well, though. I sign out paper books from the library all the time, but I've never tried the "new" tech.

 

[RDR_BU]

Can you listen to them (audio) or just read?

Many of the books have both audio and text versions available. Not all will have audio, but I am able to find numerous books that do have audio. I like Dean Koontz and most of his books have an audio version.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Another vote for Libby. Just go to the website for your local library. You'll need a library card, but those are free, as is Libby. The audiobook versions of the books are usually more readily available than the Kindle versions.

 

[Princess Me]

I mostly use the Libby and Audible apps on my iPhone. You can get them both in your app store. The Apple Books app on your iPhone also has audiobooks that you can purchase, and they have an Under $5 section with a lot of titles on sale.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I've used Audible for years. I used to have the level of membership that gave me 24 books a year, but dropped back to 6 last year. I was listening to lots of news/political podcasts last year, but now that I've deleted all of those.....thinking I need to go back to premium.