How to Listen
Our Audiobooks are available on the following formats:
Streaming
Memory Stick
Downloads
Streaming
Audiobooks can be played instantly on a computer, mobile or Alexa device from our new streaming service, My Calibre.
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.
Streaming quick guides
Alexa Skill
My Calibre members can now stream their audiobooks using our Alexa skill. Once installed, the skill allows you to play any book in your current playlist, as well as skip tracks backward and forward. You can also set a sleep timer, and your book will be marked at the end of the session.
Follow the quick guide in the link below to find out how to install and use the Alexa skill.
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 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 and Google Play via the links below and for Windows from the Dolphin Website.
Dolphin GuideConnect
Dolphin GuideConnect includes a Books and News feature which makes it easy to search the full collection from Calibre Audio. Once you have found the title you want to read, you can download it to your device and read it in GuideConnect. You will have 28 days to read the title before it needs to be returned to Calibre Audio.
GuideConnect is user-friendly tech designed for people with sight loss. It provides straightforward menu options to help people with sight loss to complete a variety of everyday activities. With GuideConnect you can send emails, write documents, read printed letters, listen to music and podcasts, and much more. GuideConnect is available to use on a range of devices, including Windows computers, laptops, tablets or on your own TV.
Find out more about Dolphin GuideConnect by following this link.
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.
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
