Books on the Go!

By Morgan Sohl, Adult Services Librarian | Monday, June 15, 2009

Summer is here and for many of us that means going on vacation. And while we look forward to getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, traveling does come with some pains. Long airplane trips, sitting in airports or car rides across the country are only a few of the calamities that await us during the summer. But the Rapid City Public Library has the perfect solution for keeping yourself and your family entertained - downloadable audiobooks and books on CD.

Not only are downloadable audiobooks great for maintaining your sanity in long lines and terrible car rides, but they are also perfect for a relaxing afternoon at the lake or a day at the beach.
 
So what are downloadable audiobooks? These are digital versions of audiobooks made available on the internet by OverDrive. This collection of bestsellers and old favorites is available anytime of day from anywhere in the world! And most importantly it’s easy to use. All you need to do is install the free software onto your computer, check out the title(s) you want, and download the title(s) to your computer. Then upload to an iPod or other MP3 player and enjoy.

The Rapid City Public Library has a large collection of over 1,500 downloadable audiobooks (both Fiction and Non-Fiction) which you can listen to on a plane, on the road, or even on a cruise. Wherever you go, you can bring a book with you, along with all of your music, without having to carry around bulky books.

We have titles in both WMA and MP3 formats so devices from iPods, Zunes, Coby, Creative, ScanDisk and many more support these audiobooks. OverDrive also is available to patrons with Mac computers. You don’t even need an audio player! All of these titles can simply be played off of your computer as well.

To access these digital audiobooks, you will need a valid library card, access to the internet, and ability to download the free software. Go to: http://rapidcity.lib.overdrive.com to see our selection of titles to choose from. We have audiobooks from James Patterson and Terry Brooks to Eoin Colfer and Stephanie Meyer.

If iPods are not your thing and you have a regular CD player, come and check out our hundreds of books on CD titles for patrons of all ages and interests. Whether you are looking for a mystery, romance, thriller or a non-fiction, we have something for everyone.

And don’t forget your kids. Our downloadable audiobooks and books on CDs have titles to entertain your kids on a long trip while you enjoy your own book.

Visit the library’s website at www.rapidcitylibrary.org to search for titles. And remember that you can also contact us by phone (394-4171 Downtown or 716-4098 at the North library), or visit in person at either of the library locations. RCPL is ready to help you to find the perfect book, in any format, this summer!