To get started

• You don't need any special equipment, your library will supply everything
• Locate a title or titles in the catalog that you'd like to borrow.
• Make sure that the title status is Available
• Let one of the library staff members know which books you'd like to borrow.

Common Questions

Are digital audiobooks better than tape or CD?
There are some very significant advantages of digital audiobooks.
• Digital audiobook cannot be damaged, so your library can spend less on replacing books, and more on adding new titles to the collection.
• They are easy to share and can be delivered to you instantly. A book can be returned by a patron in Lisbon, and five minutes later it’s available for download by users at any participating library.
• Digital audiobooks don’t require any shelf space, which allows your library to add hundreds of new titles.
• No more tapes or CD’s to switch - no more changing tapes while cruising down the highway or while on a long run. Your entire book (and likely more than one) can easily be stored on your digital audiobook player.
• No more skipping, which is common in some auto and portable CD players.
• No more damaged or mangled tapes
• More portable – since you can store multiple audiobooks on a single player it’s easier to take them anywhere.

  Can I play these files anywhere?
  Unlike normal MP3 files which can be played on almost any computer and many portable devices, the books from ListenOhio are copyright protected using special encryption technology, so that they can only be played on the players that you check out from your library.

  Can I checkout audiobooks from ListenOhio on my own MP3 player?
  We’re working hard to make this a possibility, but it looks like it will take a few months. Please check back here in the future for updates.

  How many titles can I check out?
  It depends on the length of the audiobooks you select. The audiobook players you check out from your library will hold about 26 hours of audio (most abridged titles range from 3-6 hours and unabridged titles usually range from 9-15 hours).

  How long can I keep these books?
  Audiobooks from ListenOhio have the same loan period as other books at your library.

  Are there any borrowing restrictions?
  Please ask your librarian for more information about any limitations on borrowing.

  Can I reserve a title?
  Not at this time, but we expect to add this feature shortly.

  Do other libraries offer this service?
  Not too many at this time. We are the first group of libraries anywhere to make digital audiobooks available to patrons.

  Can I request a title I’d like added to ListenOhio?
  Yes you can. Please let a librarian know if there are titles you’d like to have added and we’ll do our best to acquire them as budget and policy permit.

  Where can I listen to these audiobooks?
  The audiobook players are small and portable. Many patrons listen while exercising, doing housework, gardening and in the car. Each player comes with a cassette adapter allowing you to listen to your audiobooks while driving.

  What is a Book Basket?
  ListenOhio has added the ability for you to a collect list of titles you want to hear into a list, called a basket. Once you create a basket you can add as many titles as you want, and you can view it any time using the username and PIN you selected. When you’re ready to check out, library staff will use your list to load available titles onto a player. Titles that you don't check out will stay in your basket for next time. This new feature will make getting the titles you want faster and easier.