Q&A: How to Find an Audiobook to Listen to

This is a guest blog post by Logan Holdsworth, Reader Services Librarian at the Central Library in Copley Square.

The first thing I want to say is: listening to Audiobooks IS reading. If you needed to hear that from a librarian, there you go.

I’m looking to listen to Audiobooks at the Boston Public Library. Where do I even start?

If you prefer Audiobooks on CD, we have a selection of almost 5,000 books on CD that can be found in our catalog here: Audiobooks on CD.

If you prefer streaming Audiobooks through a phone or other digital device, we get all our eAudiobooks through the app Libby, which is owned by a company called Overdrive. They also have a website called libbyapp.com, if you would rather use a computer browser than an app. Finally, you can always search (and stream) Audiobooks directly in the BPL's online catalog!

Libby's catalog is very user-friendly and the filters will let you narrow down what you see as you're browsing. You can filter by genre, format, availability, audience, and language. Personally, I like to filter by: format: audiobooks, availability: available now, language: English, and then the genre I am interested in at the time.

What are some online resources at the Boston Public Library that you recommend for listening to eAudiobooks at the BPL?

Libby is always your best bet for eAudiobooks. As mentioned above, this is how we get all of our digital audiobooks. We have a collection of approximately 48,000 titles.

Are there apps that might be helpful to download?

• Libby App: The BPL gets all eAudiobooks through Overdrive, so they are available via Libby.
• BPL to Go App
• Apps for iPhone and apps for Android

Are there any specific BPL webpages I should know about that could help me in my quest for Audiobooks?

• We get all eAudiobooks through Libby
• We do also purchase Audiobooks on CD
• To browse new Audiobook additions to our catalog, visit our Audiobooks page

Do you have any suggestions or tips and tricks to help me find something great?

• Staff Picks: these are the titles that various members of BPL staff personally recommend.
• Shelf-Service: get personalized book recommendations from a librarian. You can specify that you are only interested in recommendations that are available as Audiobooks!
• Booklists with Audiobooks
• NoveList has an amazing Audio Characteristics filter that includes subjects like: multiple narrators, distinctly voiced, character accents, engrossing, well-characterized, immersive, youthful, sophisticated, melodious, and read by author. Additionally, you can sort by abridged, unabridged, or dramatized.

I can't find a specific Audiobook through BPL. Any tips? 

If you're looking for a specific Audiobook that we don't have, the BPL also have a reciprocal digital borrowing agreement with many other public libraries in the Commonwealth. This means that you can set up an account with them in Libby and check out their Audiobooks, too! Our partner libraries are CLAMS, CW Mars, Merrimack Valley Library Consortium, Minuteman Library Network, NOBLE: North of Boston Library Exchange, Old Colony Library Network, and SAILS Library Network. You can read more about adding Partner Libraries to your Libby account in our FAQs.

If there are titles that you want as Audiobooks that we do not have, you are always welcome to submit a Purchase Suggestion. We will try to procure the item for you! However, there are some titles that we cannot get in your chosen format due to publication contracts, such as Audible exclusives. If you are more patient than I am, there is also the Notify Me tag. If you search in Libby for a title, you may find that it's in the app but the BPL doesn't own it yet. Apply the Notify Me tag to that title! If the BPL buys it later, you will get a push update to your device letting you know that it's in our catalog now.

Where else can I listen to Audiobooks for free?

• LibriVox – Public Domain books available in a variety of languages.
• Digitalbook.io – A multi-lingual, multi-market, multi-platform audiobook and eBook content discovery platform, here to help you find your next big read.
• AudiobooksNow.com – has a selection of free audiobooks but also has paid content.
• Internet Archive – Listen to free audio books and poetry recordings.
• Project Gutenberg – Although they no longer add new titles to the Audiobooks collection this is an excellent resource for non-fiction and educational texts.

Can I get help with this from a real live librarian?

We always recommend coming in person for one-on-one assistance. At the Central Library in Copley Square, you can come to the New & Novel desk for in-person help anytime the library is open — no need for an appointment. Your local branch may be able to offer assistance as well, but call ahead to check their availability. If you are not able to come in person, you can always email ask@bpl.org for any inquiries.

What else can I do with my library card and how do I get one?

You can learn more about what you can do with your BPL library card on our webpage, Your Library Card. Apply for an eCard on our website or visit your local Branch for a physical card. Remember to bring photo ID and proof of residency! For more information, read our FAQs on Getting a Library Card.