Audio Books
Audio books are available in a range of formats from both voluntary and commercial suppliers, for loan and for purchase.
| Provider | Description | Formats/Device | User |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public and school libraries; bookshops | Most public and school libraries have stocks of audio CDs and cassettes; high street and online retailers also sell audio books. | Audio cassette, audio CD | Anyone |
| Audible.co.uk | 40,000 downloadable commercial audio books including children's and young people's books. | MP3 | Anyone |
Audio Stories 4 Kids | 300 public domain audio books in MP3 format. | MP3 | Anyone |
| BBC Audiobooks | BBC audio book titles (commercial). | Audio CD, MP3 | Anyone |
| The Books for All Scotland Database (via Scran) | The BFAS Database is a joint development between CALL, LTS and Scran. It is available to teachers and staff in Scottish schools via either Scran or Glow login. | PDF, LIT, Clicker 5, Audio e.g. MP3, Large Print, PDF, Braille | Visually impaired and physically disabled pupils in Scottish schools |
The Books for All Scotland Database (via Glow) | The BFAS Database is a joint development between CALL, LTS and Scran. It is available to teachers and staff in Scottish schools via either Scran or Glow login. | PDF, LIT, Clicker 5, Audio e.g. MP3, Large Print, PDF, Braille | Visually impaired and physically disabled pupils in Scottish schools |
| Calibre Audio Library and Young Calibre | Free lending library of 7,000 audio books on CD and downloadable, for people with sight problems, dyslexia or physical disabilities. | Audio cassette, Audio CD | Print disabled readers |
| iTunes | Downloadable commercial audio books. | AIFF (iPod) | Anyone |
DigitalaudioBooks.co.uk | 40,000 downloadable commercial audio books, including childrens' and young people's books. | MP3 | Anyone |
LibreVox | A web directory of sources of free audio books. Includes links to some of the libraries on this page. | various | Anyone |
LibriVox | LibriVox provides free audiobooks of public domain works. The books are recorded by volunteers. There are now several thousand available. | Podcasts, MP3 & ogg | Anyone |
| Listening Books | A lending library with over 1,000 audio books for children. Annual membership: £45 (2 CDs at any one time, and Internet download); £30 (CDs only); £20 (download only). | Audio CD, MP3 | Print-disabled readers |
Lochaber High School Audio Revision Project | A really good example of how learning resources can be provided in alternative formats. A full set of revision materials (some produced by staff, some commercial publications) for the school's Standard Grade and Higher subjects have been recorded and are available on the school web site. | Podcast, MP3 | Anyone |
| Project Gutenberg Audio Project | Out-of-copyright titles in human and synthetic recordings. | MP3 | Anyone |
| RNIB Book Site | 12,000 audio books for loan (£50 annual subscription) or sale (cheaper than commercial audio titles) by "blind and partially sighted people living in the UK" | Daisy audio | Visually impaired readers |
Spoken Ink | A web site offering downloadable audio short stories (mostly 99p each) by authors such as Roald Dahl, Angela Carter, Julian Barnes, Margaret Atwood "and a host of new and unknown talent." | MP3 | Anyone |
Storynory | Free downloaded audio recordings, for children, of Classic books, fairy tales and also new original stories. | MP3 | Anyone |
| StoryPhones | MP3 players designed for schools and for children. Schools can download a range of audio versions of popular children's books. | MP3 | Anyone |
