How to Listen

Our Audiobooks are available on the following formats:

Streaming

Streaming

Memory Stick

Memory Stick

Downloads

Downloads

Streaming

Audiobooks can be played instantly on a computer or mobile device from our new streaming service, My Calibre (currently in beta).

Titles can be borrowed for a period of up to 28 days. If you use roaming, your data will be used to stream the book. Because streaming is live, you are in control of what you choose to listen to, when you want to.

Your audiobook will pick up where you left off, even if you login to your account from a different device. You can have up to 4 audiobooks in your streaming list. Our Quick Guide below will you will tell you everything you need to know to get listening.

If you've used or are currently using our old streaming service, Play Calibre, we recommend switching over to My Calibre once you've finished your current audiobook.

Our streaming service is free to children and young people, and those in full-time education. For adults, it costs £3 per month or £30 for one year. Paying for your subscription is easy, you'll be taken to a payment page when you sign up or log in to your account.

Click here to go to My Calibre

Click here to view the quick guide on the web

Memory Stick

Members can borrow audiobooks on memory stick for a period of eight weeks. We usually issue each member with three memory sticks so they always have one at home while the others are being sent out or returned.

Our memory sticks can be played on any USB player. These can be purchased from many online retailers, including the RNIB and Amazon.

For more information on using our memory stick service, please download the guide below.

Downloads

You can download audiobooks using two apps - Dolphin EasyReader and Libby, the library app.

Dolphin EasyReader

Our audiobooks are now available to download on the Dolphin EasyReader app. The app is free to download on iOS and Android and you have 28 days to download and listen to a book before it needs to be returned. All you need to login is your Calibre Audio membership number and password. For help accessing Calibre's collection on the app, please see our user guide below. If you have any questions about the service please visit our Help pages, but for any issues with the app itself help is available on the Dolphin website here. You can also find out more on the Dolphin website here. You can download Dolphin EasyReader on the App Store, Google Play and Windows.

Apple App Store logo Google Play logo

Libby

You can now borrow audiobooks to download and listen to on your phone or tablet using the Libby app, by OverDrive. The Libby app is free to download on iOS and Android. You have 21 days to download and listen to a book before it needs to be returned and you can download up to four books at a time. All you need to login is your Calibre Audio membership number and Pin Number (both of which are available from our Membership Services Team if you need a reminder).

The titles on Libby may differ slightly from our streaming site but more titles are being added all the time.

The Quick Guide below gives you all the information you need to get started on listening to Calibre audiobooks on the Libby app.

To read more about Libby visit here. To browse the collection and download a book to the Libby app visit here.

For help with devices or troubleshooting then visit here.

Apple App Store logo Google Play logo

Synapptic

A designated Calibre Audio feature is now available on Synapptic software. Version 9.1 introduces the Calibre audiobooks feature, which, if you have a Calibre membership, allows quick and easy access to our full collection.

Synapptic software provides a simple smartphone interface for people with sight loss. The award-winning design is focussed on making interaction easy to use, making it an ideal choice for accessing Calibre's streaming service.

To find out more about Calibre on Synapptic, head to their website here.

More information

Below, you can download any of the Quick Start Guides we have made available.

Quick Start Guides

  • Document image
  • Image shows the front cover of the Memory Stick Quick Guide
  • Image shows the cover of the Play Calibre Streaming Guide which has a blue background, a pair of headphones and the title.
  • Image shows the front cover of the Dolphin EasyReader Quick Guide with a pair of earphones and the title
  • Image shows the front cover of the Libby Quick Guide with a pair of earphones
  • Document image