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| By Lori O' Brien Correspondent CHICOPEE Audio books have been around for almost 20 years and are proving to be more popular than ever as people strapped for time now listen while commuting to work or in between running errands. If you enjoy reading but seem to have difficulty finding the time to immerse yourself in a good book, audio books may be an option to consider. In addition, they can also make ideal holiday gifts for all ages of readers and listeners. During a recent visit to the Chicopee Public Library on Front Street, the audio book options appear endless. Audio books are available for all ages, ranging from classics and fairy tales for children, to best sellers and biographies for adults. Currently, the library has in excess of 1,700 audio books available on its shelves. An audio book is a recording of the contents of a book read aloud which is usually found on cassette tapes, CDs or digital formats including MP3. Unabridged audio books feature word for word readings from a book while abridged audio books have text edited out by the abridger. While cassette tapes still comprise approximately 40 percent of the audio book market, CDs remain the other dominant format style of choice by consumers. In some cases, audio books can be fully dramatized versions of the printed book that features a complete cast, sound effects and music. iPods have also made audio books more accessible to people since it allows for portable listening. Currently, about 40 percent of all audio book use occurs through public libraries, with the remainder sold through retail book stores. A relatively new feature at the Chicopee Public Library is a digital catalog in conjunction with C/W MARS (Connecting Libraries in Central and Western Massachusetts) that now in addition to the collection of digital audio books and eBooks stored, patrons can access downloadable video titles. For more information on Chicopee Public Library's resources, call (413) 594-1800 or visit www.chicopeepubliclibrary.org. |