A Great Listen with Listening Books

Listening Books is a fantastic charity, run by a small team of book lovers. 

It is for disabled people aged 7+ who may have a physical disability, (that makes holding a typical paperback hard), learning difficulties, sensory impairment or mental health condition, that affects reading and concentration. 

What I love about Listening Books, is the variety of books you can get on there. I've listened to all sorts, from murder mystery, to a disability activists autobiography and the biography of a blind artist. There is so much choice, its fab! 

For just £20 a year you can enjoy up to 10 books a week (2 at a time) via an app or the Listening Books website. For those who find navigating apps or using the internet tricky, you can access audio books on MP3 CD's for just £35 a year. You can also combine the two options for just £45 a year. Listening Books is a cheaper alternative to other audio book catalogues.

Listening Books also have a sponsorship system that grants those in financial hardship a free membership, making reading accessible to all. 


Website front page for Listening Books. Summary given of what the service provides and images of a variety of different people smiling. 

Listening Books have a partnership with a library app called Libby. On Libby, you can find many uk libraries, including Listening Books. It’s fairly easy to switch between libraries, but staff are on hand to offer support if you get stuck. As I've said, you can listen through the website, but I personally prefer using the app, especially as Libby works well with the voice over function.


Screenshot of library page, displaying audio book titles. Pictures of the front pages of book cover. 


You can request titles too and the team will do their best to source them for you, either by going to publishers directly or recording the book with their own voice actors. 

As well as having access to thousands of audio books, Listening Books also allows you to view both International and National newspapers.  


With a committed support team, annual awards, with prizes chosen by member, and a really friendly Facebook group, 'The Listening Books Club', Listening Books have truly brought together a great community. 


Image of book playing showing book cover of The Inheritance Games. Shows playing options, speeds, length of book. 

So come on, put on some headphones and escape into another world! 

You can find out full details by visiting www.listening-books.org.uk


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