Another book/audiobook post. That’s what’s on my mind, so that’s what I’m posting.
After a couple years of not much reading or listening to audiobooks, I got back into it about 5 months ago. I mostly listen to audiobooks, because I can listen while doing other things, which is easier than making the time to sit and physically read. And I especially have a lot of time available to listen while running.
All 59 of the audiobooks and the one ebook I’ve finished since August, as of yesterday, have been from my local public library. Ebooks can be read on Kindle, Kindle app, or the Overdrive and Libby apps (same company). Audiobooks can be listened to through the Overdrive or Libby.
I average about 3 days to listen to an audiobook. Below is how I manage my loans, holds, and wish list, so I always have something to listen to.
Borrow Multiple at a Time
A lot of the audiobooks I want to listen to have waitlists, including several series. I try to have at least 3-4 borrowed at a time. The library loans audiobooks and ebooks for 21 days at a time.
Audiobooks can’t be renewed. I don’t remember if ebooks can. I also try to have no more than 6 out at a time, even though they allow 20 at once. I’ve had 6 or more a couple times, and I got close to the 21 day limit on the more recently borrowed ones. I don’t want to go back to the end of the wait list.
Holds/Waitlist and Timing
To keep new audiobooks coming, I try to have about 10 on hold at a time, and I use auto-borrow. The library allows 20, but I’ve found that if I have more than about 10, they start to pile up on me. I also try to spread out the estimated wait times.
I’ll put the next book in a series on hold either when I have one borrowed, or if one is estimated to be available soon, and the next has a longer wait time. I still end up waiting multiple weeks between books in some popular series.
My library, or maybe the app I use, allows suspending holds, which I did once. I think I had 6 or 7 audiobooks out, and the wait time for about 5 more was down to 2 weeks or less. I just wasn’t going to finish the ones I had in time to also get to the ones on hold that were going to get auto-borrowed in the alotted 21 days. So the people behind me on those waitlists got to borrow them a little early.
Build a Long Wish List
The wish list is great for organizing books/audiobooks I want to read. I have over 100 audiobooks on my wish list. Some have waitlists. Others are currently available to borrow. This way, I have a list of books I know I’m interested in that I can put on hold or just borrow without having to search. It also helps me keep track of all the different series I’m working through. And I don’t have to remember how many are left.
Every so often, I’ll add more to my waitlist. Mostly, I see them mentioned somewhere and they seem interesting. I’ve looked up best books lists in whatever genre or about whatever topic I’m interested in. I’ll look into the ones that I think might be interesting to see what they’re about and check ratings, usually on GoodReads.com. Those lists are a decent way to build up a wish list quickly.
As an example, I’m have another 3 weeks of a formerly 11 week wait time for Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I have 4 books borrowed to listen to, and another 10 on hold, including a 10 week wait for the 2nd Hitchhiker’s book, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. The other 3 in the series are in my wish list.
My Current Loans and Holds
Loans (days until expiration):
- Wizard and Glass, by Stephen King. The Dark Tower book 4. (13 days)
- Abaddon’s Gate, by James S. A. Corey. The Expanse book 3. (15 days)
- Anatomy of a Song, by Marc Myers. (18 days)
- How to Make It in the Music Business, by Ari Herstand. (21 days)
Holds (estimated wait time):
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, book 1. (3 weeks)
- The Dark Forest, by Cixin Liu. Three Body Trilogy, book 2. (2 weeks)
- The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin. The Broken Earth, book 1. (3 weeks)
- Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, by Haruki Murakami. (2 weeks)
- Wolves of the Calla, by Stephen King. The Dark Tower, book 5. (4 weeks)
- Foundation and Earth, by Isaac Asimov. Foundation Series, book 7 chronological order, 5 publication order. (2 weeks)
- Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood. MaddAddam Trilogy, book 1. (4 weeks)
- Cibola Burns, by James S. A. Corey. The Expanse, book 4. (6 weeks)
- Space Opera, by Catherynne M. Valente. (8 weeks)
- The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, book 2. (10 weeks)
- Death’s End, by Cixin Liu. Three Body Trilogy, book 3. (6 weeks)