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Topic #214
Are audiobooks considered reading?
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Absolutely audiobooks are reading. Let’s think about this from a different perspective. It’s always so funny to watch arguments over paper versus electronic. Bibliophiles like the smell and feel of physical books, while others love the convenience of a library on a notebook size device. I am in both camps. The one camp I’m not full in with is audiobooks. That’s because I can hold a device or book, and have full use of my eyes.
Audiobooks have created a boon for those with visual impairments and those with physical impairments that make reading from a device difficult if not prohibitive. A lot of us don’t consider disabilities when talking about books. My perspective comes from my term as a student services secretary serving an entire state university. My office consisted of disability services, veteran affairs, and student life, as well as career services and grievances.
One of the accommodations our office was able to provide students was books in alternative formats. Sometimes that was electronic, because they could use a reader or increase the font. Other times, students needed audio. If we could get it, we would without a second thought.
Something that always struck me was the lack of electronic format books through major publishers. With all their resources they do not provide alternate formats for accessibility that customers require. Very few books were in electronic documents or accessible. I spent a lot of hours fixing this for our students. I was happy to, but I was disgusted by the publishers and their lack of concern about this issue.
To be fair, I wish I could afford to get mine into audio format, because I know I am not able to deliver my work to those with different needs. That’s very frustrating. The cost of talent and the service can be quite prohibitive to indie authors. Some use their own voice and prove they have a talent for the work. Accessing a studio to make the recording is costly, however. Then there is finding a way to publish it with your books. It’s a lot to navigate!
But none of that should prohibit major publishers from have their books accessible. For many, audiobooks are the only way to read a book. Audiobooks are just the book being read by voice talent, just as if someone came to sit in your kitchen and read a paper copy to you. Absolutely, yes. Audiobooks are reading.
Be sure to check out the other author perspectives by clicking on their links below…
True, audio books do help those with visual impairments, but they are listening to a CD (as one would listen to music) and not reading. They are using a different sense.
If you investigate doing a royalty share with ACX, then you’ll discover that you don’t have to pay anything to have your novel turned into a CD.
I’ve attempted it, but no one was interested in working with me.
I’m a great fan of whatever methods I can use to make my work available to all. And the good news, audiobooks (like self-published e-books) can be produced to a very high standard at no upfront cost.
I attempted ACX, but no takers on the shared.
Good point about the disabilities. I’m old enough to remember when large print books were considered somewhat of a minor miracle.
a boon to the visually impaired, for sure!
Sharing ideas using as many platforms as possible is important to creating equity in access. Great post.
🙂 accessibility is hugely important! I don’t think people who don’t encounter limitations have any idea how something as simple as an electronic version can raise someone up.
I’m a great fan of doing whatever works. Businesses exist to make a profit. That’s as much true for the major publishers as for indie authors. If I can make money from audio books, I will sell audio books. But if I’m having to layout thousands of dollars and there’s a tiny market, I’m not going to undercut my own position.
You can only provide what your business can afford to provide, as much as we would like to accommodate every need! It’s true. I can’t put myself out of house and home, but if my profits build enough that I can afford it, then I will provide the product. Gotta get there, first.
This is a great attitude and I personally am happy that audio books have enabled so many more people to enjoy books. Our granny is no longer able to read as she is 97 and her eyesight is bad, but with her hearing aid, she can enjoy audio books. I enjoy being read to myself and listen to a lot of audio books.
And storytelling began orally, well before language was ever created. Language, as you know, evolved as a means to write all our stories down to keep a record.