I love my job, but this drive was wearing on me. Radio programming has too many commercials. I tired of my CD’s after a while. Then one of my patrons suggested that I try listening to a book on tape. She was extremely enthusiastic about it, and her enthusiasm was contagious. So I checked out Bessemer’s audio-book collection.

I found we had an unabridged copy of Recorded Books version of The Horse Whisperer by Nicolas Evans. This book had been highly recommended to me, so I decided to give it a try. Am I ever glad I did! I loved it! I was as enthralled listening to this story, driving in my car down the highway, as I had been sitting in my Mother’s lap, being read to as a child. The time passed all too quickly. I began to think of my commute everyday as my "Reading Time." Before this, my reading time had been confined to my hour lunch break. Like almost everyone else I know, I really don’t have the luxury of reading at home. So my commute everyday was suddenly something I began to look forward to. It changed my whole outlook about being in the car. It no longer seemed like a waste of time.

Before I knew it, I was hooked. I now have a tape player in my bathroom and in my kitchen. I listen to my books while I get ready in the mornings, and while I am cooking. I guess you could say I am a "hardcore" audio-book fan now.

Many of my patrons are in jobs where they play audio books all day instead of listening to the radio as they work. Since my library (Bessemer Public) has one of the largest audio collections in the county, I get patrons from everywhere who "need something new to listen to."

For the unschooled, there are two types of audio books: Abridged and unabridged. Unabridged books are the complete work from start to finish. The abridged book is a "Reader’s Digest" version; the original work is pared down to fit onto less tapes (frequently secondary stories are edited out and the major plot line is highlighted).

Audio books are big business. Major publishers are releasing the audio versions of new titles along with hardbacks these days. I highly recommend you give your next book a listen. Are there any long car trips in your future? Sick of listening to the radio, day in and day out? Audio books can change your whole attitude about being in a car or being chained to a task that requires your body but not your mind. Happy listening!