Audiobooks 
You can borrow audiobooks — also known as talking books — from our collection of fiction and non-fiction titles.
This page details the different formats of audiobook and answers some common questions about their use.
OverDrive — download and transfer
OverDrive is a free digital media platform which allows library members to download audiobooks and transfer them to a MP3 player. Books self-expire on their due-by date.
Playaway — borrow the book and the player
A Playaway is a small, self-contained player which has one book on it. They are very easy to use — just press play.
- Find out more about Playaway.
- To find Playaway audiobooks, keyword search using 'Playaway' or subject search by 'Audiobooks'.
Compact discs — listen in different formats and return
Audiobook compact discs may come as normal CDs or as MP3/M4b audiobooks.
- You can restrict your searches of our catalogue to only show results for a talking books by using the material type drop-down box on the catalogue search page.
- To find MP3 CD audiobooks in our catalogue, keyword search using 'MP3 CD'. A subject search by 'Talking books' will display everything we have in CD, cassette and MP3 CD format.
- Some MP3 CD talking books offer a M4b disc which can be used to download on to iPods and iPhones. These talking books can be found by using 'M4b CD' as a keyword search.
- There are charges for borrowing audiobooks.
More about MP3 CDs
- What is contained on the disc?
- The disc contains the MP3 files and a single M4b file. Each MP3 file represents a chapter or track of the unabridged audiobook. In most cases the single disc will include both the MP3 files and the M4b file. For longer books, however, it may be necessary to include a second disc and at times this may just contain the M4b file. In this case, the disc will be clearly labelled.
- What is an MP3 file?
- The MP3 file is the audio file which has been compressed to a smaller size. As such it can only be played on MP3 compatible CD, DVD and MP3 players, iPods, mobile phones, and computers. All compatible MP3 players are clearly marked with MP3 CD.
- What is an M4b file?
- The M4b file contains all MP3 files as a single file. At this time only iPod users can use the M4b file, and it is provided at no extra cost.
Playing the MP3 CD
- How do I play the MP3 CD on a compatible CD player?
- This is identical to playing a regular CD — insert the disc into the player and press play.
- How do I copy the MP3 CD to a portable MP3 player?
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- Insert the MP3 disc into the CD/DVD drive on the computer.
- Open the My Music folder and create a new sub-folder using the title of the book.
- On the PC desktop open the MP3 CD folder.
- Select all of the files on the MP3 CD.
- Copy the files into the new folder created in the My Music folder.
- This new folder then needs to be copied to your media player e.g. iTunes or Windows Media Player:
- Open iTunes/Windows Media Player on the desktop, followed by the My Music folder.
- Click and drag the new folder created in My Music to either iTunes/Windows Media Player.
- Synchronise the MP3 device to iTunes/Windows Media Player.
