Reading seems like a fairly straightforward process. After all, we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. We just don’t read the same way we used to – books are everywhere, and they come in many different formats. Digital books and audiobooks changed the game. It’s easier to be an author than it ever was, and this has only given us more literary options!
If you or someone close to you is a book lover, look into these tools:
1) Personalised Stamps
We all love sharing our favourite books with others, but some of these borrowers are forgetful when it comes to returning things. That’s where personalised rubber stamps come in. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to have a custom rubber stamp made that denotes whose personal library a book is from. This can put an end to confusion, and make sure books get back to their proper home.
2) WhichBook
When you’ve found yourself on an unorthodox kick, it can be hard to find more books to satiate your craving. You want something unpredictable, disturbing, romantic, and funny. You’ve already read John Dies At The End, so where do you go next? WhichBook allows readers to adjust how much of what quality they’re looking for in a book, and makes recommendations based on what the reader is looking for.
3) Audiobook Converter
When Audiobooks come in MP3 format, they become difficult to keep track of. Fortunately, iTunes has some built in features that allow users to easily convert MP3s into optimized audiobooks. This means you can listen to your book while you’re working out at the gym, and pick back up where you left off when you go out for lunch afterwards. If you don’t have an iPhone, you can always purchase one secondhand and unlock it. It’s worth it just to have the perfect audiobook companion.
4) Wattpad
At its core, Wattpad is a social network specifically for readers and writers. Whether you’re looking to discover something new and read fiction written by undiscovered talent, or you yourself are an aspiring author looking for some feedback, you’re going to love the sense of community on Wattpad. You may discover your new favorite author in casual conversation among people with similar tastes.
5) Plug and Read Classics
What if you could fit a library of thousands of classic books comfortably into the palm of your hand? Now you can! Technology is a wonderful thing. Most of the classics are in the public domain, and many book stores are taking advantage of that by loading them onto USB drives for ultimate portability. Taking a weekend trip away? Bring your USB library. It’s never been easier to read while you travel.
6) LibriVox
You always said you would get around to reading Pride and Prejudice, but you just can’t seem to find the time. With LibriVox, you don’t have to read it at all. You can listen to it while you’re cleaning the house or walking the dog. Volunteers read public domain classics and send their readings to LibriVox, where you can listen to them for free.
7) Lighted Bookmarks
Lighted bookmarks serve two very important purposes: one, you’ll need to know where you left off, and two, it’s impossible to read in the dark. Rather than having two completely separate tools to solve both problems, lighted bookmarks offer a versatile solution to two of the most common things that readers need.
These tools are more than just useful – they also make it fun to read. If you’ve been slacking lately, maybe using a few of these tools will inspire you to dive back into that tough read you’ve been shoving aside for a while now.
BIO: Rachel is a mother of 2 beautiful boys. She loves to hike and write about travelling, education and business. She is a Senior Content Manager at NYBizDb – an online resource of relevant business information.
