Types of Audio FORMATS and How to ACCESS Them
There are many ways you can purchase audiobooks, but through the library you can access a huge selection of titles for free, using just your CWMARS library card.
Books on CD
You can find many books on CD throughout the CWMARS network. You just need a functioning CD player! Simply go to the CWMARS catalog and limit the format to “CD audiobook,” and enter a title, author or just a keyword. New audiobooks are also listed on our Wowbrary page weekly.
E-Audio Books
Using a smartphone or other device, you’ll find even more audiobook titles when you download the Libby and/or Hoopla apps. There you can search for, request and listen to titles electronically right from your device. For more detailed information about how to get started with E-audio, go to our eBooks and Digital Media page.
Podcasts
Podcasts are series-based audio files you can download, like a radio program you can listen to anytime. Most podcasts are available electronically free of charge. You can find them on your device’s podcast app or store (this varies by type of device), and subscribe to specific podcasts to receive regular updates. Libraries don’t own physical versions of podcasts, but we’re happy to help you access them!
How to FIND the Best Audio Material for You
Spend some time looking around, using the links below for reviews and awards lists of audiobooks, and also think about what it is that you most like in a book and in a narrator. Audiobooks do require more of your time than reading, so also consider how many hours you would like to spend listening.
Browse or search library audiobooks
Browse all audiobooks on CD sorted here in order by publication date.
All audiobooks on CD at the Milne
Go directly to this search in CWMARS for a list of all of our audiobooks on CD, sorted by popularity. Sort or narrow down the results according to your own needs.
All E-audio books available to CWMARS patrons
Go to this catalog search for all E-audio (electronic audio files) titles. You can also search within the Libby or Hoopla apps, in addition to finding E-audio books in the catalog.
Read audiobook reviews
Audiobook Lists (Audiobooks.com)
Best Audiobooks of 2020 (AudioFile Magazine)
Best Media of 2021 (Library Journal)
BookPage Audio (BookPage)
Goodreads Listopia Aubiobook Book Lists (Goodreads)
The Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration (American Library Association)
Find audiobooks that have won awards
Audie Awards (Audio Publishers Association)
Earphones Awards (AudioFile Magazine)
Find narrators you like
Best audiobook narrators of 2021 (Hookedtobooks.com)
Best audiobook narrators of all time (Rakuten Kobo)
Narrator Hall of Fame (Audible.com)
Read podcast reviews
The following are just a handful of the many podcast review sites out there, but they are all a great place to start! Your podcast app on your phone will also list podcasts along with customer reviews.
New Yorker Magazine Podcast Reviews
Find podcasts that have won awards
Below are among the few national podcast awards given to the best podcasts in the U.S.
iHeartRadio Podcast Awards (iHeartRadio)
List of podcast award programs (The Bello Collective)
Podcast Awards: the People’s Choice (Podcast Awards)