June, as we know, is Audiobook Appreciation Month. According to PBS, the first audiobook was recorded in 1932! That means audiobooks have a long and varied history. Particularly fascinating in this history is the debate over whether or not listening to books counts as reading them. I, Bilbeau Baggins (summer intern, at your service) count all my audiobooks as I track my reading throughout the year. I enjoy audiobooks immensely, and mostly listen to them while taking long walks around The Shire.
With the advent of apps like Libby, which allow you to borrow audiobooks as you would any library book, listening to books is simpler now than it has ever been. But did you know that your listening stats are also easier to personally track than ever before? With a recently released StoryGraph update, tracking statistics for how many minutes you listen to audiobooks, and how those minutes translate to pages, is now at your fingertips.
Imagine my surprise when, post-StoryGraph update, I logged in to find that my 2022 audiobook time came to 55.75 hours (see left) – that’s over 2 whole days!
If you are unfamiliar with StoryGraph, I want to point out that it’s a great tool for tracking your reading and if prioritizing reading was on your New Year’s Resolution list, you need to run, not walk, to download the app. The independent world’s answer to GoodReads, StoryGraph helps break down your reading choices into nifty categories like genre, mood, and format. What’s more, the app uses the data you provide to give you personalized recommendations! You can even follow Beaufort Books on the StoryGraph “community” tab to see what the Beaufort team has released and/or read lately.
StoryGraph is always receptive to feedback, and the audiobook-tracking update comes from users’ opinions and ideas. The new feature defaults to counting listening time as “pages,” but users can easily toggle back and forth between that and “minutes listened.” If you are planning on celebrating Audiobook Appreciation Month, StoryGraph is a must-have!
Tags: audiobooks, libby, storygraph