For the last few months, I have become obsessed with podcasts, specifically library-related ones, and general audiobooks. They are fantastic for distraction, and I find myself listening to them while walking to the station, bus-stop, library, shops, and so forth.
I knock out close to three hours of podcasts / audiobooks a day as I walk, and I find that I get so much more absorbed than with listening to music. Being a partner to a musician, I have become quite guilty in the way that I sometimes skip over half a song while I am walking because it is getting a bit "dull". I tend to devote time fully to listening to music now, or at the very least putting it on the background and not switching tracks half-way through.
So, I compiled a list of some great things to listen to. Firstly, a brief introduction:
Podcasts are digital audio files made available for download or transfer, usually in MP3 format. You can listen on your phone, MP3 player, tablet, computer, or equivalent device. Podcasts can simply be recorded lectures, interviews, casual chats, or even stories. Most podcasts are available for download, but some are only available through streaming.
The best way to come across podcasts is to simply search for podcasts, either generally or relating to a specific subject (libraries, engineering, games, cooking).
Audiobooks are the recorded readings of books, typically in MP3 or WMA format. You can listen to them on standard devices (phone, MP3 player, computer, tablet). Audiobooks can be purchased either online and directly downloaded, or in a store, in either the form of a cassette or CD.
There are plenty of places to obtain audiobooks. Chances are your library has a handy stock already. If you want to own a physical copy yourself, then Audio Books Direct has a pretty comprehensive selection. However, if you are more interested in direct downloads, then check out the links below.
Audible
Audible is a website and app used for finding, buying, downloading, and listening to audiobooks. A subscription to Audible costs $15 a month, but you get one free credit per month. A credit can be redeemed for a $70 audiobook (unbelievable, I know!), so it really works out in your favour. They are run by Amazon, so you know they are dedicated to quality.
Humble Bundle (Book Bundles)Humble Bundle offer weekly deals on games, books, and soundtracks. They offer amazing deals, offering you both quantity and quality. For their book bundle, they alternate between audiobooks and ebooks, but are always worth checking it out. The money you spend can be as little as 1 cent, but it goes to charity, so consider giving them their money's worth.
Library Podcasts
Digital Living
Digital Living describes the latest technology for work and home, from the newest in entertainment options through to forthcoming releases in software and even changes in industry standards...adding their great humour as well! (Available for download).
Popular Culture Happy HourNPR's entertainment and pop culture round-table podcast features spirited discussions of movies, books, television, nostalgia, and — every time — what's making us happy this week. (Available for download).
Adventures In Library Instruction Podcast
A monthly podcast by and for library information literacy instructors and teaching librarians. The show includes features, interviews and discussion about teaching in libraries. (Available for download).
Library Chat
Conversations about the library world with professionals working in and around libraries. (Available for download).
Circulating Ideas
Circulating Ideas is the librarian interview podcast hosted by Steve Thomas. (Listen online, not for download).
Dekalb County Library
Podcasts by a lovely library in Georgia that talk about novelists, poets, and their works. (Available for download).
National Library Of Australia
Their podcasts fall under a variety of topic headings, including events, conferences, collections, bookshop, digital culture, and media. (Available for download).
In The Library With A Comic Book
A tumblr by and for librarians, educators and people who just plain like comics. (Available for download).
The British Library
The British Library has podcasts relating to previous exhibitions, science events, talks, and audio guides (tours, general information, current exhibitions). (Listen online, not for download).
Books +
Books + is the one-stop destination for bibliophiles, a digest of the week’s best interviews about books and writing across RN. (Available for download).
Other Podcasts
Welcome To Night Vale
WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE is a twice-monthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events.
Turn on your radio and hide.
Gaming Podcasts
I haven't had a chance to listen to any of these yet, but here is a pretty comprehensive list of game podcasts. I am going to check these out later in the week.
Audiobooks - Non-Fiction
The Great Courses - Fine Arts & MusicA series of lectures about fine arts and music, including everything from talks about jazz and classical music, to guides about understanding the opera.
The Great Courses: History of Science
A series of physics lectures, with individual books about the theory of evolution, scientific ideas that changed the world, and essential scientific concepts. iifjf
The Great Courses: Western Literature
A series of lectures about Western literature, including books "The Iliad of Homer", "A Skeptics' Guide to the great books", "Greek tragedy", and "Classics of Russian literature".
Fry's English Delight"Stephen Fry hosts four programmes on the joys of the English language - as heard on BBC Radio 4, including Current Puns. Why does our language groan with the weight of puns? What exactly is a pun?"
No comments:
Post a Comment