As one who listens frequently to audiobooks, I happen to like the connivence of it when tracking the chapters and time. However, as Erin said in the blog the narrator can make or break it. If you do not have someone who can help keep the story flowing, and if you are able to listen to the samples that really helps whether the book will be a good listen. I know for me I don't always listen to them but look more at the popularity sometimes. Not always a good thing, but that is something people do look at. I actually was recommended to listen to "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee and it was narrated by Resse Witherspoon. I listened to the sample, and I was drawn in right away. With eBooks, if I was able to get them for free (before discovering Libby and Hoopla), I only was able to get free ones. Otherwise, I would have to pay a subscription to Audible. When Libby and Hoopla came on the market for libraries, I was hooked for audiobooks. However, with the eBooks, I started to steer away because of blue light and how it was affecting my eyes. For eBooks I also find that patrons who do have vision issues, can enlarge the print or change to the dark filter, have helped them with print.
I have many patrons who have kindle or nooks, and they have always enjoyed them. I will give eBooks a praise because there are some books out there that are only eBook. For those who have the technology they do have more access, but unless you have an account that you need to pay to have access to all the books, for me that is not feasible. I have also heard others say audiobooks and eBooks take away from actually feeling and holding a book. For me personally I do agree with that, but with life as busy as it gets and getting a book in hands can make things progress slowly in a reading journey. This is why in college I turned to audiobooks; I was able to focus on the story even if the author was not the greatest, I'll admit.
With the surge of these platforms, I think connivence and price influence our borrowing. However, I'll be the first to admit that the covers of some of the titles do draw me and others. However, with audio they can be abridged which means parts of the story get altered. That for me is a drawback because you miss out on the entirety of what the author worked so hard to produce. When parts of the story are altered, it can mess up the flow of the audio and can also cause gaps in the story that can leave readers/listeners wondering. As an audio user, I always make sure the recording is unabridged for one and also consider the samples before committing to the story.
You are absolutely right that cost can be a big inhibitor when it comes to digital media. While many people have smartphones, those are not always convenient for reading eBooks because of the comparatively small size of the screen. But they are definitely convenient when it comes to digital audiobooks, which I thoroughly enjoy. They make it much easier for me to consume nonfiction, which I always seem to drag through when reading print or digitally. With the rise of Libby and Hoopla, it's even easier to acquire digital books at no cost, so thank goodness for libraries!
ReplyDeleteLauren, Amen to Libraries indeed. I've had this notion that when I read or listen to a book that is my cursor to buy the title or not.
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