This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Library Chat: A Time to Read and a Time to Listen

Washington County libraries offer books on CD.

There are some good times to listen to (NOT READ!) a book…

  • You’re in a car headed to work, and it’s a half-hour drive. Or they’ve closed the Stillwater bridge, making your commute even longer.
  • You’re at home alone and you’re devoting your day to making a quilt. It’s hard to cut and pin and read, but it may be relaxing to have a story going on in the background to keep you company.
  • You find it difficult to hold a heavy book, but you’re anxious to know the story.

These times — and others — lend themselves to listening. And Washington County Library has just the tools to help.

Audio cassette tapes, they’re history.  But the library has a wonderful collection of books on CD. Some of my favorite LISTENS come to mind: “The Hobbit” by Tolkien; “White Oleander” by Janet Fitch; “Prodigal Summer” by Barbara Kingsolver; “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” by Dai Sijie. Many times I’ve been happily transported to another place and time while transporting myself to work. I can remember the narrators’ voices and recall their accents. The stories stay with me much longer than books I’ve read.

Listening to books on CD using a CD player is not your only choice. Downloadable eAudiobooks made available through OneClickdigital is another service the Library provides. Set up an account with OneClickdigital and you can checkout and download books to your computer or a portable listening device.

Getting to that book that you’ve always wanted to read just got easier. Don’t worry about those folks who say listening is not reading; listening has its advantages. Enjoy!

Library Woman is Joey Halbach, Community Relations Librarian for Washington County Library. Contact her at:joey.halbach@co.washington.mn.us

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