This summer, books on tape – aka audio books – transformed our long car rides from arduous journeys into enjoyable family time. Our eldest children love the stories and the baby is soothed by relaxing cadence of the readers. However, after purchasing a few audio books on iTunes and blowing through our weekly podcasts, our need for a cheaper alternative became glaringly obvious. Fortunately on a recent trip to Ilsley Library, Tricia Allen, the Youth Service Librarian, introduced us to a whole new way to access audio books; turns out all we needed was a library card! We’ve been so pleased with our online library experience that we asked Tricia to explain the ins and outs of the system to you. So without further ado, we are pleased to share our latest guest post, take it away Tricia! 

Did you know that you can access library books on the go? You can use your smartphone, tablet or computer to access the Listen Up! Vermont digital library collection via the Green Mountain Library Consortium. Made up of both audiobooks and e-books, the Listen Up! Vermont collection can be accessed by anyone with a Vermont library card in good standing. E-books are set to check out for two weeks while audiobooks are defaulted to a one-week check-out (this can be changed to two weeks in your account settings). Once your loan period is over, the titles are automatically returned, meaning there is no way to accrue fines on these titles. No need to travel to the library, no waiting in lines, no need to remember due dates and no fines. Accessing the digital collection is the easiest way to use the library!

Ilsley Library has been dedicating funds to buy extra titles for our patrons. You will find titles by  classic authors such as: Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, Kate DiCamillo, Judy Blume and Jeanne Birdsall, not to mention current hot titles like Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty, The Kingdom of Wrenly series by Jordan Quinn, the entire Rick Riordan cannon (Percy Jackson et al), and George by Alex Gino. Younger readers might enjoy the entire Fancy Nancy audio collection, narrated Scaredy Squirrel picture books, Paddington Bear books, as well as the complete Ramona Quimby series. *MiniBury says, check out the screen shot from the online site, not that we ever judge a book by it’s cover, but the visual helps kids (and parents) find a good read.

Are you reading this article on your computer? Great! Click here to start browsing the collection. Are you on your phone or tablet? Fabulous! Check out your app store for Overdrive (a blue square tile with a large white O), a FREE app designed to interface your device with the digital library collection. Download, follow the directions for initial set-up then click on the Add a Library option in the side menu. Enter Listen Up! Vermont and start browsing the collection. This is a great way to access audio books for those dreaded long car rides.

Ilsley library has put additional funds into the digital collection so that patrons with an Ilsley card number can access additional titles or additional copies beyond the core collection. These advantage copies can only be accessed once you’ve logged in with an Ilsley card, so be sure to log-in first thing. The sign in link is in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, or you can click on the account icon in the menu bar. Type in your library name as prompted, then your library card number and your last name all in capital letters for your PIN. Note: this pin will work for the computer log in and the overdrive app log in, however, if that doesn’t work, give the library a call at 388-4095 and we would be happy to double-check/reset your PIN.

Happy reading,

Tricia