Like a virgin

I am not at all a technophobe. I need wifi to live. I live a reasonable proportion of my life online. I feel naked without my phone being within arm's reach.

And yet, until recently I had never read an ebook or listened to an downloadable audiobook.

Yes, I was a library digital download virgin.

Why?

I guess I just really like the heft and feel of a book in my hands. But, realising that it was actually a ridiculous thing for a web librarian to not have even tried digital library titles, and spurred on by our Community Read, I decided to give it a go and read New Zealand novel Magpie Hall on my phone.

And it wasn't bad, actually. I thought I'd perhaps find the text too small, but I was pleasantly surprised. I chose to read in browser rather than download it. The  interface was uncluttered and the text smooth and screen-friendly. And though it was odd not to be able to see my progress via the turning of accumulated pages, Wheelers had thoughtfully included a percentage figure at the top right of my screen so I could tell when I was nearly halfway or approaching the end of the book. Nice.

Next up, I downloaded an OverDrive audiobook (and detangled my long neglected earbuds).

This format was also pretty easy to use if you get yourself the free app.

Having never tried an audiobook before I found myself enjoying how the reader interpreted the prose. Because I was reading, sorry, listening to something that was quite humorous and lighthearted in tone (namely, The Fangirl's Guide to The Galaxy - expect to see a review on this blog in the near future) it was nice to have that echoed in the delivery. It wasn't all that different to the voice I hear in my head when I'm reading something myself, albeit with an American accent.

I've since discovered that some audiobooks are actually read by the author, like As You Wish, about the making of the movie The Princess Bride, a book that I read on paper when I COULD HAVE BEEN LETTING WESTLEY READ IT TO ME WITH HIS LOVELY POSH VOWELS, OMG!

There are also audio cameos in As You Wish, including Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal. I'd be willing to wager that Billy Crystal does a better version of his voice than the version of it I did in my head.

Similarly, I would happily listen to Carrie Fisher read one of her books because, someone once described her voice as "sonorous" and I'd have to agree that it's very listenable. I love hearing writers read their own work. You never have to worry that they're misinterpreting it.

From talking to other people who have more experience with audiobooks, it seems that a lot of the enjoyment of a book in this format can come down to whether or not the voice of the person reading it to you is a good fit. Timbre, accent, speed and intonation, if they're wrong or jarring to your ear, can have a distracting effect. So it's pretty handy that our downloadable audiobooks have a short excerpt available, right there in the catalogue. Just click and listen to see if the voice of the reader suits you or not. Easy.

So on the whole, I'd have to say my first fumbling forays into downloadable library content have gone pretty well. I still do like the feeling of a physical book, but I'll certainly not look down my nose at an eBook every now and again (especially when travelling).

Feel like being brave and giving digital downloads a go? Then you may be interested in the following info -

• Browse new and recommended eBook and eAudiobook titles
• Information about the different formats of digital downloads we offer
• FAQs about eBooks and downloads

Updated:I totally forgot to mention that when I accidentally wiped all the data off my phone (don't ask) and had to set it up from new, when I reloaded the OverDrive app it knew exactly where I'd got up to and asked if I'd like to start listening again from that point. Bloody clever!