Our digital service
Over the next few years, our main way of providing audio books will be in digital format. Already more than half of our books are in the digital collection and all new books are added to it.
Digital formats have many advantages over cassettes including:
- most books fit onto one disk or memory stick
- the sound quality is better
- there is less risk of damage and
- the postal packets are smaller and easier to fit into letterboxes.
Our digital books are in MP3 format and they are available on MP3 disks and on USB memory sticks.
What is an MP3 disk?
MP3 disks look exactly like ordinary CDs, but the sound has been recorded in such a way that each disk can carry more than 16 hours of recording. All but the longest Calibre books will therefore fit on one disk. This system is becoming popular for music and commercial audio book publishers are also starting to use it.
Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes fits onto one disk compared with nine cassettes.
What to play MP3 disks on
If you want to try MP3 disks you will need a suitable player. MP3 is an ordinary commercially-available system so you can play the disks on: 
- a good range of MP3 machines from the shops, including portable models
- your home computer if you have a CD drive
- most DVD machines and
- an RNIB Daisy player.
MP3 is not the same as the Daisy system used by the RNIB Talking Book Service. Daisy disks can only be played on specialist (and therefore expensive) machines. Many Daisy machines will play MP3 disks, but you cannot play Daisy books on ordinary MP3 disk players.
"What a pleasure the disk was to listen to. The story was good, the reader was good and the sound was top class."
Derek Tolson, Yorkshire - one of our MP3 pioneers
How to choose an MP3 disk player
Calibre members look at a choice of MP3
players
There are lots of MP3 players in the shops and the models are changing all the time - so you need to think carefully about what you want. Read our guide to finding a machine to suit you. 
We should point out that you may have heard of a completely different type of MP3 player, often referred to as an Ipod, which is designed for downloading material from the internet. This type of player will not play MP3 disks. Shop staff (or your family!) may assume this is the type of player you want - you need to make it clear that you want an MP3 disk player.
If you have problems buying a suitable player locally, you may like to contact Hagger Electronics, a mail order supplier, who have undertaken to stock players suitable for Calibre books. The number is 0845 882 0505, and the postal address is Hagger Electronics, Unit 22, Business Gate West, Avenue One, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, SG6 2HB. Their website address is www.hagger.co.uk.
Advice about products and suppliers is given in good faith but please read our disclaimer.
"I found the MP3 disks very easy to use and especially appreciated having books on one disk. The sound quality is brilliant and the disks are much more compact than cassettes so they save space too."
Hazel Darvell, Devon - another MP3 pioneer
What is a USB memory stick?
A memory stick is a small device about the size of thumb which can hold a huge amount of digital information, such as a complete audio book. They are also referred to as thumb drives or pen drives. They plug into a player or computer.
To play your Calibre books using a memory stick you will need the Boom Box USB speaker which is being used by some local talking newspapers. If you have problems buying a suitable player, you may like to contact Hagger Electronics, a mail order supplier, who stock Boom Box speakers. The number is 0845 882 0505, and the postal address is Hagger Electronics, Unit 22, Business Gate West, Avenue One, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, SG6 2HB. Their website address is www.hagger.co.uk.
"Memory sticks are much easier to use than the cassettes and have better sound quality,” says Sue Rogers, Bucks
Getting started with digital audio
Contact us on 01296 432 339 for our information cassette and a trial MP3 disk.
Currently we have almost 5,000 books in this format, chosen from the most popular books in our library. We are adding new ones all the time. You can find out what we have using the online catalogue. This allows you to search for books in the format you prefer. The catalogue entry states whether it is available in digital format. Most books are available on cassette.
Why are we introducing books in a digital format?
We are now providing digital formats because of the many advantages they bring for our members. We introduced the service in July 2006 after five years of careful research and testing with members to find the best option available.
We also introduced the service because the days of the cassette are numbered. We will continue the cassette service as long as we can, but we must be ready with an alternative when this technology is finally obsolete.
We are meeting the £600,000 cost of the new digital service through reserves and fundraising. Click here to see how you could contribute to this work.