I have customers asking for advice finding audiobooks. How do I do reader’s advisory for audiobooks?

It’s important to remember that many customers often listen differently than they read depending on where they listen and whether they listen alone or with family.

Many customers listen in their cars, while working, exercising or at home.  Reader’s Advisory skills and knowledge transfer from print material to audiobooks; however, there a few exceptions to consider.

Narration
The narrator interprets the printed word rather than merely reading the words.  Many customers chose audiobooks based solely on the narrator regardless of the genre.  Does the narrator capture your interest? Is the audiobook worth listening to? Another consideration is type of narration: single voice, multi-voiced (a narrator may voice more than one character), and full cast (every character has a different narrator).

Format
Audiobooks are available in many formats: audio cassette, cd, mp3 cd and ebooks or digital downloads.  Does the customer have a format preference? Also, be sure to inquire about abridged and unabridged editions.  In some cases, the abridged version is released on audio prior to the unabridged version.  The abridged version offers the opportunity to sample the author’s work as well as a particular narrator.

Characterization
How does the narrator portray the different characters? This can be a challenge for the listener who does not have visual cues to denote character changes.

Music
What role does music play in the audiobook?  Music is often used to transition between chapters, to create a mood, or as an introduction and closing to an audiobook production.

If you are new to audiobook reader’s advisory, Audiofile magazine is a good resource for reviews, author interviews, articles, audio clips and narrator biographies. The magazine also includes listening recommendations for the whole family.  Recorded Books, LLC also features new releases, award winners, brief summaries, featured narrators and genre recommendations.  If you need recommendations for children or young adults, see the Odyssey Award; it’s awarded annually for best audiobook production for children and young adults. 

The best way to become familiar with audiobooks is to select different genres, listen to a few tracks, read the wrapper (comparable to the book jacket) and decide the overall audibility.  Is it a good listen or a better read?

For additional resources and Web sites, check How to Find the Audiobook That You Want.