h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I recently went into the new public library in our town. It's spacious and has plenty of places where you can sit and read.

However, quite a lot of space was taken up by audio books. Audio books? I thought libraries were about reading.

Only if you're blessed with sight! One of my friends has a vast collection of audio books, mind you they've kept their paper books from before their sight loss, *just for the feel*, so maybe there is a sentimental need to owning an actual book after all?

My eldest was threatened with her degree being withheld because she owed £3.90 in library fees to her university. After a mad scramble, we discovered it was a computer error!

Another great column DG, regards to Elektra (sorry for the Librarian nonsense!)

Elektra likes librarian jokes. I bought her a t-shirt once, 'Librarians are novel lovers.'

Yes - audio books are important for the visually impaired! Not everyone reads Braille, and audio appeals to a broader demographic. I used to listen to them on long car trips. Of course, I'm way too critical about the readers, since I've done it myself on radio and for non-sighted scholars.

I really recommend Open Library: no late return fees (because the loan expires online) and they have audio versions, too, which I forgot to mention.