Have you started listening to audiobooks yet? You don’t have to give up reading “real” books, I promise, because audiobooks are real books! So just think of audiobooks as another way to enjoy a good book. Here are five reasons you might want to give audiobooks a listen.

1. Audiobooks let you multitask – Audiobooks allow you to do something else while you are reading a book. You can listen to an audiobook while you are driving, cleaning your house, cooking, knitting or on your daily walk or run…you get the idea!

2. Audiobooks are portable and convenient – Audiobooks are easy to take with you, whenever and wherever, especially if you listen on your phone or digital device. My preference is listening to audiobooks on my phone by accessing the library collection through the Libby App. Libby is free to download to your device using your library card. If digital audiobooks and apps aren’t in your comfort zone, we have a great selection of audiobooks on CD at the library. A few of the new nonfiction audiobooks on CD at the library are “Spare” by Prince Harry, “Noom Mindset: Learn the Science, Lose the Weight” and “Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America’s Most Dangerous Female Spy–and the Sister She Betrayed” by Jim Popkin.

3. Audiobooks have wonderful narrators – For instance, I recently listened to “Exiles” by Jane Harper which was set in Australia. The narrator had an Australian accent which added immeasurably to my enjoyment of the book, placing me right there in a southern Australian town. I’ve also heard that the Harry Potter books have fantastic narrators. Sometimes it is pretty cool when the author narrates their own book; then he or she reads the book exactly as you were intended to experience it.

4. Audiobooks help when there are difficulties with reading – Audiobooks are wonderful for people who have difficulty reading. Just think about people with failing vision keeping up with their favorite authors, or children who are reluctant readers being able to just relax and enjoy the story without struggling to read every word!

5. Listening to audiobooks is like being read to – You are never too old to enjoy having someone read a story to you!

Don’t you think it’s time to give audiobooks a try? Ask at the library If you have questions about how to get started listening to audiobooks; we are always happy to help!

This has nothing to do with audiobooks… but in honor of all the snow we have right now, you might want to check out this book and go play in the snow. “Snow Play: How to Make Forts & Slides & Winter Campfires Plus the Coolest Loch Ness Monster and 23 Other Brrrilliant Projects in the Snow.” Also, don’t forget about the snow related items in our Library of Things such as sleds, snowshoes and a snowfort kit. The snow isn’t going anywhere for a while so we might as well go play in it!

New Ulm Public Library is located at 17 N Broadway and is open Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information on library events and hours, visit www.newulmlibrary.org and choose Library Events.