The Ultimate Guide On How To Get Mp3 Audio Books Free by Peter Craske
Introduction
The audio book industry is expected to reach an estimated two billion U.S. dollars a year very soon. This extraordinary growth in recent years can be explained by a combination of factors that have conspired to increase audio book demand at an exponential rate in recent years. Firstly, the increased availability of fast, cheap Internet connections has made downloading more popular in general. Secondly, the introduction of the Ipod and similar Mp3 digital players has resulted in consumers having an increased appetite for audio products that can be listened to on their players. However, if you don't have lots of cash to pay out for audio books, can you get mp3 audio books free?
The answer to this question is yes; you just need to know where to look. This article offers you Tips on how you can build up your audio book collection legally without resorting to using illegal file sharing services. These are not recommended least of all because many of the files you may download are incumbent with viruses that may damage your computer.
Tip 1 - Make Use Of Your Public Library
This is probably one of the best sources of free audio books there is. If you are lucky like me, you will find that your local library has a huge selection of music and audio material that you can borrow for weeks at a time. There is sometimes a small charge made for lending services like these, but believe me this is nothing compared to the cost of having to go out purchase a new audio book. In my experience the audio books that I want tend to be popular, therefore you may find that find that you will benefit from using your library's reservation system in order to obtain the titles you're after.
Tip 2 - Use The Internet
This may sound obvious but many people simply give up on the first page of a search engine or only try Google. In order to discover new and exciting audio book sites you will need to dig a little deeper. It is a known fact that keywords such as "free audio books" is very competitive therefore you are only likely to discover those sites with more resources at their disposal at the top of the search engines. By researching past page one of Google you will potentially turn up more interesting results.
Tip 3 - Get Advice From Forums
If Tip 2 fails to yield any decent free sites, then you can turn to one of the Audio book forums on the Internet for advice on where to find the best mp3 audio books free. Forums are where like minded people gather together and give the benefit of their experience to others in a series of messages on particular topics as long as they are within the remit of the forum. I have learnt a lot about audio books from simply reading posts on such forums without needing to participate at all.
Tip 4 - Don't Forget On-Line Auction Sites
Still on-line, auction sites are another good source of cheap audio books. Whilst not all free you can certainly do a lot worse than buying from an established Seller on one of these sites. If you are thinking of doing this please make sure that you check the Seller out first (i.e. make sure that they are a reliable trader, good indications are a high feedback score, good comments etc.). You also need to ensure that the format you receive the mp3 files in will be compatible with your player.
Tip 5 - Garage Sales, Car Boot Sales, etc.
I've picked up quite a few audio cd's at Car Boot and Garage Sales for next to nothing and converted them into mp3 files using free software downloaded from the Internet.
Conclusion
By now you should have some good ideas for building up your collection of mp3 audio books for free. I would start this weekend with a trip to my local library and then check out the local paper for a Garage Sale. Remember to dig a little deeper on-line into those search and engine results and have a go at participating in some audio book forums, its great fun! Happy listening.
About the Author
Peter Craske runs an informational website that provides audio book tips and advice, free audio book resources can be found at The Links Page.
For more general Audio Book Advice visit Audio Books Advisor.
Tuesday 16 October 2007
Monday 9 July 2007
Sunday 1 July 2007
Peter Kay - The Sound of Laughter
I have just spent some great time reading The Sound of Laughter, the Autobiography of Peter Kay. It is a very funny book, and an excellent read if you are just looking for a light laugh.
I would question if it can be classed as an autobigraphy, after all he is younger than me, as far as I feel it is more a story of what he did at school and what he did for a living before he became a star. Saying that it is still very funny book.
Thursday 28 June 2007
Harry Potter
World waits for Harry Potter's last adventure
Harry Potter will been winging his way overseas like never before after the final instalment of the boy wizard's tale notched up record orders from abroad.
With less than a month to go before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hits bookstores, publisher Bloomsbury said today that export orders were already 17% ahead of total export sales for the previous book.
Bloomsbury, whose fortunes have been transformed over the past 10 years by JK Rowling's creation, will be following up the seventh and final book's July 21 launch with boxed set editions of the complete series on October 1. The paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is due in 2008.
Amazon said earlier this month that it has already racked up more than 1m pre-orders of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Chief executive Jeff Bezos admitted to shareholders that the web retailer would not make any profit on the bestseller, which is being widely discounted. Barnes & Noble, the US bookseller, said in April that it expects to take over 1m pre-orders, more than doubling its previous record.
Harry Potter has enjoyed huge success overseas and is published in 65 languages, while the films based on JK Rowling's books have pulled in substantial box office takings.
Bloomsbury's export orders come from more than 60 countries and are all for the English language version.
From Guardian Unlimited
Harry Potter will been winging his way overseas like never before after the final instalment of the boy wizard's tale notched up record orders from abroad.
With less than a month to go before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hits bookstores, publisher Bloomsbury said today that export orders were already 17% ahead of total export sales for the previous book.
Bloomsbury, whose fortunes have been transformed over the past 10 years by JK Rowling's creation, will be following up the seventh and final book's July 21 launch with boxed set editions of the complete series on October 1. The paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is due in 2008.
Amazon said earlier this month that it has already racked up more than 1m pre-orders of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Chief executive Jeff Bezos admitted to shareholders that the web retailer would not make any profit on the bestseller, which is being widely discounted. Barnes & Noble, the US bookseller, said in April that it expects to take over 1m pre-orders, more than doubling its previous record.
Harry Potter has enjoyed huge success overseas and is published in 65 languages, while the films based on JK Rowling's books have pulled in substantial box office takings.
Bloomsbury's export orders come from more than 60 countries and are all for the English language version.
From Guardian Unlimited
Monday 25 June 2007
My love for bestseller books
I always make sure that I spend money on things that I would not feel guilty about later. This means that I’m not the type of person who goes on shopping sprees at the mall and buy things that I'll never actually wear. I can proudly say that I don't live a lavish life with material possessions that I have no need for.
However, books seem to be my weakness because I spend a lot of my money on them. You can often see me spending most of my time in a bookstore. I feel like I’m in heaven when I walk into Borders or Barnes and Noble and see the bestseller books aisle. A person can never have too many books or read too much in my opinion.
I’m very capable of recommending a particular author to my friends and family because I've read so many bestseller books. In fact, many of my coworkers know that they don't need to go out and purchase the bestseller books they're dying to read. After all, they can simply wait for a few weeks and then they can borrow my books.
About five years ago, I joined the Literary Guild book club and have long since fulfilled my required obligation. I love the fact that I can get most of the bestseller books for half the cost by joining the club. I can read a book in a weekend if it is worth reading.
Through the years, I have learned that bestseller books are not always the best books on the market. I've been won over by new authors or little known authors after I read so many of their books. I've passed those books onto coworkers who have also have never heard of the authors. Many of them agree that these less known books are much better than the some of the bestseller books that are on the market.
I think that some well-known authors' books go straight to the bestseller shelves simply because of the prominence of the author. It’s not fair but I guess that’s just the way the market seems to work. Now, I’m not condemning the bestseller books that are on the market because I’m just criticizing the system.
By: Morgan Hamilton
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Bestseller Books. Visit our site for more helpful information about Bestseller Books and other similar topics.
However, books seem to be my weakness because I spend a lot of my money on them. You can often see me spending most of my time in a bookstore. I feel like I’m in heaven when I walk into Borders or Barnes and Noble and see the bestseller books aisle. A person can never have too many books or read too much in my opinion.
I’m very capable of recommending a particular author to my friends and family because I've read so many bestseller books. In fact, many of my coworkers know that they don't need to go out and purchase the bestseller books they're dying to read. After all, they can simply wait for a few weeks and then they can borrow my books.
About five years ago, I joined the Literary Guild book club and have long since fulfilled my required obligation. I love the fact that I can get most of the bestseller books for half the cost by joining the club. I can read a book in a weekend if it is worth reading.
Through the years, I have learned that bestseller books are not always the best books on the market. I've been won over by new authors or little known authors after I read so many of their books. I've passed those books onto coworkers who have also have never heard of the authors. Many of them agree that these less known books are much better than the some of the bestseller books that are on the market.
I think that some well-known authors' books go straight to the bestseller shelves simply because of the prominence of the author. It’s not fair but I guess that’s just the way the market seems to work. Now, I’m not condemning the bestseller books that are on the market because I’m just criticizing the system.
By: Morgan Hamilton
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Bestseller Books. Visit our site for more helpful information about Bestseller Books and other similar topics.
Saturday 23 June 2007
Wedding speeches in books.
If anybody is thinking of getting married, or being a part of a wedding as a best man, father of the bride, no doubt at some time in the proceedings it will come around to speeches.
Now if you are anything like me speeches do not come readily to mind, what to put in them, when to make them, how to make them. Well one of the best resources for help is obviously a book if only to give you some ideas, so I would recommend a couple of websites if only to let you know you are not alone in this predicament.
Wedding speeches
Wedding toasts
Now if you are anything like me speeches do not come readily to mind, what to put in them, when to make them, how to make them. Well one of the best resources for help is obviously a book if only to give you some ideas, so I would recommend a couple of websites if only to let you know you are not alone in this predicament.
Wedding speeches
Wedding toasts
Speed Reading Books
Are you Reading as Many Books as You'd Like?
Do you read as much as you'd like, or as many as you'd like of the books you're interested in? Have you ever ploughed through a book purely because you felt you should finish it, rather than because you were enjoying it? Try this short exercise - it will profoundly affect the way you look at your reading choices.
• How many books do you read on average a month?
• Multiply that figure by 12
• How many years of life would you like to think you have left?
• Multiply the number of years by the number of books you can read in a year
• That figure is the likely number of books you'll read in the rest of your life, unless you learn to read faster.
How do you feel about that? And faced with that knowledge, are you happy with the selections you're currently making?
The time spent on today's reading prevents you reading something else. Life is one of choice - make sure your choices take you in the direction you wish to go. The readers in a community are the leaders of the community.
My biggest recommendation to increase your reading rate is to attend a rapid reading course (sometimes called speed reading). You'll probably have access to some in your community (along with the list of reading resources we're building on this site), but the single most important element is the on-going practice.
If you want to try a few techniques on your own here are a few key pointers, but please don't consider this the definitive instruction on how to speed-read. It's only to whet your appetite. You really need to attend a course to be pushed to significantly higher levels of competency, because only an external person can push you past the comfort zone of your eyes, your brain, and your current beliefs about your abilities.
Some rapid-reading keys
1. Read with purpose. Don't read things you won't remember, and don't waste time reading things that won't further you in any way. If you're going to China, or have a keen interest in the area, an article about Chinese travel will be of relevance. However, many people read mindlessly, ploughing through whatever's under their nose - just because it's there!
2. Review the way you'll use this particular information, before you start. Start with the end in mind.
3. Have an expectation of success. See yourself reading at great speed. Fill your mind with a positive expectation of great deeds. Feel and imagine the power of the rapid flow of information into your mind. And hear the rapid flow of words just pouring into your brain.
4. Affirmations. What is your language and conversation about your reading ability? Do an audit on your words. If you find yourself saying, 'I'm hopeless, slow, or can't do it' - guess what - you'll be right. Instead, use positive present tense statements such as 'I love reading', 'I'm a really fast reader', 'Reading at speed is very easy for me', and you'll be amazed at how quickly it comes true.
5. Sit upright and hold the book at a comfortable position
6. Have good overhead light, fresh air, plenty of water, and a comfortable temperature
7. Read from the back of your head (your visual cortex) through your eyes, not from your eyes. You'll have a broader vision
8. Preview and review the book by flicking quickly through contents, index, information at the front and back.
9. Use a visual guide, usually your finger, or sometimes two fingers, depending on the size of the column of print. This is where the training by an instructor is really useful (they won't let you get away with bad habits, and they push you beyond your comfort level). Most of us as little children started to read by using our finger to guide our eyes, as we sounded and said the words. Then we graduated to silent reading. The teacher told us to take our finger away but we continued to 'say' the words, inside our head. Speech is many times slower than sight, and yet many people roll into adulthood still silently speaking the words they read. No wonder they struggle. Their brain is bored, the information is therefore hard to retain, and they find themselves labouring over the work. One of the key elements of rapid reading is to use our finger at a very fast rate, running it down the page. We don't need to read every word in order to comprehend and retain the information. All we need is chunks of text, and the sense is gathered at lightening speed.
10. Speed training. Go as fast as your hand can turn the pages, and don't worry that there seems to be virtually no comprehension at this stage. The key is to stretch the eye's capacity to absorb, and to stretch your mind's belief that it can be done. Two hands are needed. With one hand run your index finger down the page as fast as you can. At first you'll notice an occasional word or phrase will jump out at you, but not much else. That's fine - comprehension is not the objective at this stage. With the other hand, turn the pages as fast as you can go.
11. Set yourself a daily target - it might be to race through a thick book that you're interested to read. It might be to practice for a specified amount of time.
12. Practice, practice, practice. Magazines and newspapers are great to practice on. The columns are thin, which helps you go even faster.
13. Comprehension. You may think you're not absorbing much, but try this test. Select a book you want to read. Each time you pick it up to read in your old style, first do the rapid run described above. You'll notice when you come to read in your slow way that in fact you already know, and can remember having seen, most of the key concepts. We call this a conscious convincer. Your subconscious needs reassurance that nothing is being lost, and that you have absorbed the information you need.
14. Coupled with the rapid 'preview', if you do wish to read slower, do it with a highlighter in your hand. Your retention of the material will be greatly enhanced, for you will have visited the information several times.
You may still wish to read at a slower speed for enjoyment, or because you need to really absorb every word of an author for study purposes, but if every day you practice this technique, suddenly you'll find you really are reading and absorbing at a much faster rate.
------------------------
Unlike most time management gurus, New Zealander Robyn Pearce used to be bad at time! She's made all the mistakes in the book and now brings hope to time-strugglers world-wide through speeches, licensed training programs and best-seller books.
Do you read as much as you'd like, or as many as you'd like of the books you're interested in? Have you ever ploughed through a book purely because you felt you should finish it, rather than because you were enjoying it? Try this short exercise - it will profoundly affect the way you look at your reading choices.
• How many books do you read on average a month?
• Multiply that figure by 12
• How many years of life would you like to think you have left?
• Multiply the number of years by the number of books you can read in a year
• That figure is the likely number of books you'll read in the rest of your life, unless you learn to read faster.
How do you feel about that? And faced with that knowledge, are you happy with the selections you're currently making?
The time spent on today's reading prevents you reading something else. Life is one of choice - make sure your choices take you in the direction you wish to go. The readers in a community are the leaders of the community.
My biggest recommendation to increase your reading rate is to attend a rapid reading course (sometimes called speed reading). You'll probably have access to some in your community (along with the list of reading resources we're building on this site), but the single most important element is the on-going practice.
If you want to try a few techniques on your own here are a few key pointers, but please don't consider this the definitive instruction on how to speed-read. It's only to whet your appetite. You really need to attend a course to be pushed to significantly higher levels of competency, because only an external person can push you past the comfort zone of your eyes, your brain, and your current beliefs about your abilities.
Some rapid-reading keys
1. Read with purpose. Don't read things you won't remember, and don't waste time reading things that won't further you in any way. If you're going to China, or have a keen interest in the area, an article about Chinese travel will be of relevance. However, many people read mindlessly, ploughing through whatever's under their nose - just because it's there!
2. Review the way you'll use this particular information, before you start. Start with the end in mind.
3. Have an expectation of success. See yourself reading at great speed. Fill your mind with a positive expectation of great deeds. Feel and imagine the power of the rapid flow of information into your mind. And hear the rapid flow of words just pouring into your brain.
4. Affirmations. What is your language and conversation about your reading ability? Do an audit on your words. If you find yourself saying, 'I'm hopeless, slow, or can't do it' - guess what - you'll be right. Instead, use positive present tense statements such as 'I love reading', 'I'm a really fast reader', 'Reading at speed is very easy for me', and you'll be amazed at how quickly it comes true.
5. Sit upright and hold the book at a comfortable position
6. Have good overhead light, fresh air, plenty of water, and a comfortable temperature
7. Read from the back of your head (your visual cortex) through your eyes, not from your eyes. You'll have a broader vision
8. Preview and review the book by flicking quickly through contents, index, information at the front and back.
9. Use a visual guide, usually your finger, or sometimes two fingers, depending on the size of the column of print. This is where the training by an instructor is really useful (they won't let you get away with bad habits, and they push you beyond your comfort level). Most of us as little children started to read by using our finger to guide our eyes, as we sounded and said the words. Then we graduated to silent reading. The teacher told us to take our finger away but we continued to 'say' the words, inside our head. Speech is many times slower than sight, and yet many people roll into adulthood still silently speaking the words they read. No wonder they struggle. Their brain is bored, the information is therefore hard to retain, and they find themselves labouring over the work. One of the key elements of rapid reading is to use our finger at a very fast rate, running it down the page. We don't need to read every word in order to comprehend and retain the information. All we need is chunks of text, and the sense is gathered at lightening speed.
10. Speed training. Go as fast as your hand can turn the pages, and don't worry that there seems to be virtually no comprehension at this stage. The key is to stretch the eye's capacity to absorb, and to stretch your mind's belief that it can be done. Two hands are needed. With one hand run your index finger down the page as fast as you can. At first you'll notice an occasional word or phrase will jump out at you, but not much else. That's fine - comprehension is not the objective at this stage. With the other hand, turn the pages as fast as you can go.
11. Set yourself a daily target - it might be to race through a thick book that you're interested to read. It might be to practice for a specified amount of time.
12. Practice, practice, practice. Magazines and newspapers are great to practice on. The columns are thin, which helps you go even faster.
13. Comprehension. You may think you're not absorbing much, but try this test. Select a book you want to read. Each time you pick it up to read in your old style, first do the rapid run described above. You'll notice when you come to read in your slow way that in fact you already know, and can remember having seen, most of the key concepts. We call this a conscious convincer. Your subconscious needs reassurance that nothing is being lost, and that you have absorbed the information you need.
14. Coupled with the rapid 'preview', if you do wish to read slower, do it with a highlighter in your hand. Your retention of the material will be greatly enhanced, for you will have visited the information several times.
You may still wish to read at a slower speed for enjoyment, or because you need to really absorb every word of an author for study purposes, but if every day you practice this technique, suddenly you'll find you really are reading and absorbing at a much faster rate.
------------------------
Unlike most time management gurus, New Zealander Robyn Pearce used to be bad at time! She's made all the mistakes in the book and now brings hope to time-strugglers world-wide through speeches, licensed training programs and best-seller books.
Thursday 21 June 2007
Books for schools
This article was taken from the Edinburgh Evening News on 21st June 2007:
A COLLECTION of books worth £1000 are to be delivered to youngsters at an Edinburgh primary school.
The gift to Davidson's Mains Primary School, in Corbiehill Road, is part of a grant of 3000 children's books worth £20,000 to schools and libraries in Scotland by the Scottish Book Trust, the national agency for readers and writers.
Organisations, including primary schools, secondary schools and library groups, were invited to put their name in a hat and 20 winners were drawn at random.
Each of the winners will receive a collection of approximately 150 books that have been selected according to age-group or the ability of the readers, from a selection of picture books, audio books, fiction, poetry and non-fiction.
Jasmine Fassl, children's programmer at Scottish Book Trust, said: "We were delighted by the response which suggests books are in high demand and hope with this donation we are helping to provide a wider choice of reading materials that will encourage children to experience a range of authors, illustrators and topics."
A COLLECTION of books worth £1000 are to be delivered to youngsters at an Edinburgh primary school.
The gift to Davidson's Mains Primary School, in Corbiehill Road, is part of a grant of 3000 children's books worth £20,000 to schools and libraries in Scotland by the Scottish Book Trust, the national agency for readers and writers.
Organisations, including primary schools, secondary schools and library groups, were invited to put their name in a hat and 20 winners were drawn at random.
Each of the winners will receive a collection of approximately 150 books that have been selected according to age-group or the ability of the readers, from a selection of picture books, audio books, fiction, poetry and non-fiction.
Jasmine Fassl, children's programmer at Scottish Book Trust, said: "We were delighted by the response which suggests books are in high demand and hope with this donation we are helping to provide a wider choice of reading materials that will encourage children to experience a range of authors, illustrators and topics."
Monday 18 June 2007
Childrens Books
The New York Times had a recent article about two new books that adapt the classic Beowulf tale. One is just called Beowulf, and it is adapted as well as illustrated by Gareth Hinds. Candlewick is the publisher, and the age range is 9-12.
The second book is called Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold, both adapted and illustrated by James Rumford. The work is published by Houghton Mifflin.
Many feel that these new illustrated adaptations are one of the many ways to familiarize kids with the bold, heroic tale. And certainly following the success of The Lord of the Rings, publishers feel there is no reason kids would not be enchanted.
Either of these 2 books would make for great gifts.
The original version of Beowulf is a 3,000 line epic poem and one of the very first texts produced in Old English. Although the author of the work is unknown, it is believed to have been written sometime in the later part of the Early Middle Ages.
from M&C News
The second book is called Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold, both adapted and illustrated by James Rumford. The work is published by Houghton Mifflin.
Many feel that these new illustrated adaptations are one of the many ways to familiarize kids with the bold, heroic tale. And certainly following the success of The Lord of the Rings, publishers feel there is no reason kids would not be enchanted.
Either of these 2 books would make for great gifts.
The original version of Beowulf is a 3,000 line epic poem and one of the very first texts produced in Old English. Although the author of the work is unknown, it is believed to have been written sometime in the later part of the Early Middle Ages.
from M&C News
Sunday 17 June 2007
Language Books
Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. If you look for keyword searches in any search engine for any product, there will be searches related to that product, asking for information in spanish, or for example in the case of books or audio books, a spanish version of it.
As it was said, audio books are not the exception. There are hundreds of people looking for "spanish audio books" or "audio book in spanish" in most of the search engines and directories.
Fortunately, there are some audio book stores that are starting to have spanish audio books as one of their categories. There are some classic titles such as Papa Rico, Papa Pobre o La Ola Latina that can be found on almost all audio book stores.
In addition, there are other important categories in which people looking for spanish audio books can be interested. These are language learning audio books, as an audio book is an excellent tool to learn a foreign language, because you can also learn the correct pronunciation of words.
The most common spanish audio books in these categories at this moment are english courses for spanish speakers, but without any doubt in the near future, a spanish speaker will be able to learn any language.
So people looking for a spanish audio book should visit the different audio book stores where they will find a good number of titles to choose from, and that number will grow in the next months and years.
Article Source: ArticleHub
As it was said, audio books are not the exception. There are hundreds of people looking for "spanish audio books" or "audio book in spanish" in most of the search engines and directories.
Fortunately, there are some audio book stores that are starting to have spanish audio books as one of their categories. There are some classic titles such as Papa Rico, Papa Pobre o La Ola Latina that can be found on almost all audio book stores.
In addition, there are other important categories in which people looking for spanish audio books can be interested. These are language learning audio books, as an audio book is an excellent tool to learn a foreign language, because you can also learn the correct pronunciation of words.
The most common spanish audio books in these categories at this moment are english courses for spanish speakers, but without any doubt in the near future, a spanish speaker will be able to learn any language.
So people looking for a spanish audio book should visit the different audio book stores where they will find a good number of titles to choose from, and that number will grow in the next months and years.
Article Source: ArticleHub
Friday 15 June 2007
Diaries
For several years I have kept a diary, which is basically a book with dates of the year, and each day or so you fill in your daily jottings. I like to use a diary because apart from having a chance of writing anything down I also use it at a later date to remind me what I did in the past. This is mainly due to me having a very bad memory so is invaluable.
Wednesday 13 June 2007
Reference Books
I find that the more useful of books to me are the ones which actually educate, more often than not diy books. If I get stuck on a job I am doing around the house sometimes looking through the diy book will give the answer.
Reference books are a valid source of information for most tasks as someone has obviously researched the topic to an in depth degree.
Reference books are a valid source of information for most tasks as someone has obviously researched the topic to an in depth degree.
Saturday 9 June 2007
Books and Google
As part of the Google Books Library Project, Google has hooked up with the University of Minnesota and 11 other US universities to digitise up to 10 million bound book volumes. The Google Books Library project is part of the larger Google Books Search project. Google aims to create an online catalogue of books along with details of how to buy or borrow them. Google will digitise significant portions of many of the books in the 12 universities' libraries. Collectively the universities make up the US CIC (Committee on Institutional Cooperation). The universities will provide Google with specialised content to be digitised. For books that are not under copyright - generally books published prior to 1923 - or where the publisher has given permission, the entire book is made available online under the Google Books Library program. For the rest, Google offers excerpts from the books. Google will fund the digitisation of up to 10 million volumes in the CIC collections; each of the CIC organizations will cover the costs of preparing the books for digitisation. The University of Minnesota estimated the value of the partnership - in which Google will cover the costs of digitising 1 million volumes at its library - at up to $60 million. "The University of Minnesota is making history today," said University of Minnesota Provost Thomas Sullivan in a statement. "For our students and researchers, speedy access to printed volumes will change the face and pace of scholarly research. Digitising these collections is also a public good and supports the land-grant mission of the University of Minnesota." Wendy Pradt Lougee, librarian at the University of Minnesota and member of the six-person team that negotiated the six-year agreement with Google, said that the company's capacity for digitizing the books will far exceed the capability of any of the CIC universities individually. In addition, she described the project as one of the largest cooperative projects of its kind in higher education. from Pc Advisor
Wednesday 6 June 2007
James Herbert - The Secret of Crickley Hall
I have already stated previously in this blog that I am a fan of the writings of James Herbert, a horror story writer, much better than Stephen King, so I will make a comment on The Secret of Crickley Hall, which I have recently finished reading.
It is mostly set in Devon, and centres around a family who have moved there to come to terms with the dissapearance a year ago of the young son. They move into Crickley Hall and it soon becomes clear that all is not how it should be with the house. I would say this is a very good book, but not if you are easily scared.
Saturday 2 June 2007
What is an Atlas, and is it any use to me?
Atlas, in geography, collection of maps or charts. It usually includes data on various features of a country, e.g., its topography, natural resources, climate, and population, as well as its agriculture and main industries. In astronomy, a star atlas is a collection of maps or photographs covering much or all of the celestial sphere and showing the locations of stars and other objects. Although the first known atlas was compiled by the Greek geographer Ptolemy in the 2d cent. A.D., its modern form was introduced in 1570 with the publication of Theatrum orbis terrarum by the Flemish geographer Abraham Ortelius. In 1595 his close friend Gerardus Mercator published Atlas sive cosmographicae. Its frontispiece was a figure of the titan Atlas holding a globe on his shoulders. The name Atlas subsequently came to be applied to volumes of maps and information in this format. (taken from Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia)
Friday 1 June 2007
Free Books
If money is really tight, and you just need some books to read, can I suggest Public Domain Books which are free to download. They can be found at such places as http://www.pdbooksonline.com/ or http://www.authorama.com/ to name just a few places.
Thursday 31 May 2007
Top Ten Books
In a survey carried out by www.worldbookday.com the top ten books voted for were as follows, number one Pride and Prejudice-Jane Austin, second Lord of the Rings-JRR Tolkien, third Jane Eyre-Charlotte Bronte, fourth Harry Potter books-JK Rowling, fifth To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee, sixth The Bible, seventh Wuthering Heights-Emily Bronte, eighth 1984-George Orwell, ninth His Dark Materials-Phillip Pullman and tenth Great Expectations-Charles Darwin. Just goes to show the oldies are the best.
Tuesday 29 May 2007
What are EBooks
An alternative to buying a real book made of paper which you buy from a bookshop would be to buy a book that is downloaded from the internet, it is called an ebook.
There are lots of places on the internet that these ebooks can be downloaded, some of them are free.
If you have not the space for real books in your house or do not want the real book a book on your computer would be ideal.
There are lots of places on the internet that these ebooks can be downloaded, some of them are free.
If you have not the space for real books in your house or do not want the real book a book on your computer would be ideal.
Monday 28 May 2007
What is an Encyclopedia?
A comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects or on numerous aspects of a particular field, usually arranged alphabetically
Word History: The word encyclopedia, which to us usually means a large set of books, descends from a phrase that involved coming to grips with the contents of such books. The Greek phrase is enkuklios paideia, made up of enkuklios, "cyclical, periodic, ordinary," and paideia, "education," and meaning "general education." Copyists of Latin manuscripts took this phrase to be a single Greek word, enkuklopaedia, with the same meaning, and this spurious Greek word became the New Latin word encyclopaedia, coming into English with the sense "general course of instruction," first recorded in 1531. In New Latin the word was chosen as the title of a reference work covering all knowledge. The first such use in English is recorded in 1644.(from the American Heritage Dictionary)
Word History: The word encyclopedia, which to us usually means a large set of books, descends from a phrase that involved coming to grips with the contents of such books. The Greek phrase is enkuklios paideia, made up of enkuklios, "cyclical, periodic, ordinary," and paideia, "education," and meaning "general education." Copyists of Latin manuscripts took this phrase to be a single Greek word, enkuklopaedia, with the same meaning, and this spurious Greek word became the New Latin word encyclopaedia, coming into English with the sense "general course of instruction," first recorded in 1531. In New Latin the word was chosen as the title of a reference work covering all knowledge. The first such use in English is recorded in 1644.(from the American Heritage Dictionary)
Sunday 27 May 2007
Publishers
There are lots of publishers of books, some of them are the more best known such as Penguin, Cambridge University Press, DK Publishing, Macmillan Press, Random House and Time Warner to name but a few.
Saturday 26 May 2007
Audio Books
What is audio book?
Audio book is actually some kind of brand new technological break through but it’s becoming more and more popular among readers. Audio book is simple as someone, who we usually called narrator, read through all the contents inside the book and recorded it on digital media. It was quite long time a go that audio books was recorded in cassette, but today, the evolution of digital media has gone so far, then we have CDs and DVDs of digital audio books. Audio books were first introduced in order to help blind people can read books without problems. But later, audio books have also become popular among everyone, not strict only to blind people. Many books today, especially, story books usually accompanied with CD audio of its contents.
Moreover, it seems that audio books even become more and more popular among readers for many reasons. But the most important one is definitely about its convenience. You don’t have to worry about if you have not enough time to read your favourite book because you are too busy to read it. You can carry your audio book, with a CD or DVD player and you can listen and complete it any time you like, even in the car when you are driving. Other benefits of audio books is when you are reading a traditional paperback, you are absolutely have no chance to do other activities in the same time, but with an audio book, this barrier has been demolished.
Especially for children who love to read their favourite tales and almost of this kind of books now have audio version for children. This makes children more enjoy their listening, especially when they are sitting with their parent and listen together. However, as we know that the Internet now has ruled our life, all of us spend about one third of our time during the day browsing Internet, and we can buy and download millions of audio books online without waiting for 2-3 weeks shipment if compare to if you buy online a traditional paper back ones.
Some schools have already used some of audio book in classrooms, and no longer use the paperback ones. The reason is using audio book is very easy to maintain and stored. It doesn’t matter how good condition or whether is, audio books will never be damaged due to whether, unlike the paper version as the whether is the key factor to make it damaged.
However, there are some opinion and argument from many people, especially parents about if we too much use audio books, do their children’s reading skill will be gone or not properly developed?. Because if they love to listen audio book and take less reading, they will never love to read in traditional way. Some experts said that there are many ways to practice children’s reading skill and this issue is something that parents don’t have to worry about.
They also give some advice that parent should consider amount of books and audio media for their children. For children’s most favourite books, parent should have audio version for them and let them listen instead of reading. This will make them most enjoy about their favourite books. But for some school books or other kind of books, parent should have a tradition paper version for their kids to read to improve children’s reading skills.
By: Kawekied
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Audio book is actually some kind of brand new technological break through but it’s becoming more and more popular among readers. Audio book is simple as someone, who we usually called narrator, read through all the contents inside the book and recorded it on digital media. It was quite long time a go that audio books was recorded in cassette, but today, the evolution of digital media has gone so far, then we have CDs and DVDs of digital audio books. Audio books were first introduced in order to help blind people can read books without problems. But later, audio books have also become popular among everyone, not strict only to blind people. Many books today, especially, story books usually accompanied with CD audio of its contents.
Moreover, it seems that audio books even become more and more popular among readers for many reasons. But the most important one is definitely about its convenience. You don’t have to worry about if you have not enough time to read your favourite book because you are too busy to read it. You can carry your audio book, with a CD or DVD player and you can listen and complete it any time you like, even in the car when you are driving. Other benefits of audio books is when you are reading a traditional paperback, you are absolutely have no chance to do other activities in the same time, but with an audio book, this barrier has been demolished.
Especially for children who love to read their favourite tales and almost of this kind of books now have audio version for children. This makes children more enjoy their listening, especially when they are sitting with their parent and listen together. However, as we know that the Internet now has ruled our life, all of us spend about one third of our time during the day browsing Internet, and we can buy and download millions of audio books online without waiting for 2-3 weeks shipment if compare to if you buy online a traditional paper back ones.
Some schools have already used some of audio book in classrooms, and no longer use the paperback ones. The reason is using audio book is very easy to maintain and stored. It doesn’t matter how good condition or whether is, audio books will never be damaged due to whether, unlike the paper version as the whether is the key factor to make it damaged.
However, there are some opinion and argument from many people, especially parents about if we too much use audio books, do their children’s reading skill will be gone or not properly developed?. Because if they love to listen audio book and take less reading, they will never love to read in traditional way. Some experts said that there are many ways to practice children’s reading skill and this issue is something that parents don’t have to worry about.
They also give some advice that parent should consider amount of books and audio media for their children. For children’s most favourite books, parent should have audio version for them and let them listen instead of reading. This will make them most enjoy about their favourite books. But for some school books or other kind of books, parent should have a tradition paper version for their kids to read to improve children’s reading skills.
By: Kawekied
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
A Dictionary
A dictionary is a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words, with information given for each word, usually including meaning, pronunciation, and etymology.
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side, and within protective covers. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf, and each side of a sheet is called a page. A book produced in electronic format is known as an e-book.
Thursday 24 May 2007
Another thought
Do you love to read books? Well, I certainly do and I often go to used book sales to find great books to read. I also considered library sales as one of the greatest treats when I was a kid. I was very lucky because I lived in a large town with a great library. The library can afford to get rid of great books because it was so big. They would offer thousands of used books for sale for far less than they were worth. My family and I would go there and fill up boxes and boxes of books because we were all book lovers. We would have enough reading materials for half a year by just spending 20 dollars each
I have become more pragmatic in my purchases in the present. I'm now going to college so I have to save my money more carefully. As a result, I spend the majority of my money on used text books for sale.I can usually find most of the used books I need because most of the classes keep the same reading from semester to semester. I can take advantage of used books for sale on just about every topic. Some of the best bookstores are located in college towns.The World-Wide-Web is also one of the best sources of used books for sale. Using the Internet has some advantages, although it does not match the excitement of a good used books sale. It can also be hard to keep track of used books online because there are so many of them. You can find almost anything you could want on the web. It was like having a dream come true when I first discovered buying books over the Internet. Online book buying was such a temptation for me that I had to physically leave my house to stop spending money that I didn't have on used books for sale. I have also begun to sell off my used books so that I can finance my voracious reading habits. After all, many of the best book stores depend on their readers for their supply. It is normal for a reading junkie to buy several used books for sale, and then return them several months later at a significant loss. This way the bookstores that sell used will be well stocked with used books for sale.
By: Morgan Hamilton
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Thursday 17 May 2007
What type of fiction books?
My particular type of favourite reading within fiction books are science fiction or horror titles.
Authors
I must admit that one of my favourite authors of books is James Herbert, an author of horror books, who really makes it seem real. I do not think Stephen King, another author of horror books is as good as getting the reader involved with the plot.
Tuesday 15 May 2007
Paperback books
I find that paperback books are strange in that they are not easy to stack, they are easily lost in the house and they are soon forgotten.
Invariably paperbacks are usually fiction titles, so once they are read unfortunately unless they are very memorable that is the end of them, but then they can be passed on for someone else to read.
Invariably paperbacks are usually fiction titles, so once they are read unfortunately unless they are very memorable that is the end of them, but then they can be passed on for someone else to read.
Monday 14 May 2007
Books
Books are funny old things, people write them, someone publishes them, we buy them, we read them, sometimes we sell them again, sometimes we throw them away, sometimes we forget them, sometimes we keep them.
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