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Staff at the library LOVE audiobooks.

How do I know? One only needs to read through past blog posts (here, here, here, and here) to see.

Whenever I discover a brilliant new narrator I have to tell everyone how they need to listen to that book ASAP. Two coworkers are currently listening to The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud thanks to my glowing recommendation. 

I discover new audiobooks by browsing the shelves, picking audio versions of titles I want to read, and by SYNC. When SYNC arrives it's my favorite time of the year. I've actually written about SYNC before and it truly is the best thing ever.

The program is aimed at teens 13 and older to get them listening to great books. So encourage your teen to check out the titles and check them out yourself.

Don't have a teen yet? Save them for when your kids get older! No children? Get them for yourself! SYNC runs from May 5th through August 17th.

Each week you get two free audiobooks to download--books that are yours to keep forever!  

Just make sure to download your two free titles during the 7 days you're allowed to, otherwise you'll miss out on them. Downloading is easy. When it's time to download titles, you'll only need to give your name and email address.

The files are in MP3 format and compatible with most listening devices, and downloads operate through OverDrive's Media Console. If you're already checking out digital audiobooks from the library via MyMediaMall then OverDrive is very familiar to you. 

If you haven't used it before, it's really easy to get used to. Media Console is free to download and you can do so by going to their website.

I realize that we're still a month away from when it starts, but don't worry!

You can sign up for email notification when the program starts by going to the SYNC website or by texting syncYA to 25827 to receive title alerts on your cell phone

Fine print from SYNC: You will only be contacted in regards to SYNC promotions, your privacy will be protected and your information will not be shared. Up to 5 msg/mo. Reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel. Msg & data rates may apply. 

Signing up for text alerts is what I actually recommend doing. It's easy to lose track about what's going on in the summer so getting a text letting you know that two new titles are available to download are the way to go.

You can view all of the titles and when they'll be available now but I'm going highlight some can't-miss titles here.

Egg and Spoon

by Gregory Maguire

In this spin on Russian folktales, a wealthy girl and a peasant girl accidentally switch places. Baba Yaga makes an appearance in this story by the author of Wicked. 

This book has been in my to-read list for a long time! It sounds like a wonderfully dense kind of story and I can't wait to immerse myself in it.

Available to download between May 26 and June 1.

How It Went Down

by Kekla Magoon

When Tariq dies from gunshoot wounds, the community is upset. Tariq is black and his shooter was white. Everyone has something to say about what happened but no two accounts match up. Published in 2014, this story is unfortunately still timely.

Magoon is a powerful writer and I predict I'll be listening to this story with a heavy heart.

Available to download between June 16 and June 22. 

Most Dangerous

by Steve Sheinkin 

Traces the story of how an obscure government analyst exposed two decades of political deception about the Vietnam War in what became known as the Pentagon Papers.

I usually don't listen to nonfiction audiobooks but I can't wait to give this one a try. Sheinkin wrote Lincoln's Grave Robbers, which I enjoyed, and The Notorious Benedict Arnold, which I became obsessed with. He's a fantastic nonfiction writer.

Available to download between August 4 and August 10. 

Bone Gap

by Laura Ruby 

This is the story of a Roza, who is abducted, and Finn, the only witness and who is unable to identify the kidnapper. This is my poor description for this beautiful magical realism book that won the Michael L. Printz Award For Excellence In Young Literature and was a National Book Award Finalist.  

It's embarassing I haven't read this yet and I can't wait to listen to it!

Available to download August 11 to August 17.