Free digital audio books for MP3 players and computers from the New York Public Library

Forget buying books on tape or CD: why would you when you can get the same thing for free, in the convenience of your own home, 24/7/365?

On Monday of this week the New York Public Library began offering a selection of 700 titles in fiction, narrative nonfiction, business, biography, self–help and language instruction.

Available books range from recent bestsellers to classics.

But wait — there's more.

You can listen to the books via desktop or laptop computer; burn them to CD for playing in your car or stereo or discman; or transfer them to a number of portable media devices, including Windows Media–compatible MP3 players.

Looks like Mac fans and iPod users are out of luck, though.

Find out more here.

One catch: you must be a New York Public Library cardholder to use this great resource along with many others offered by the library.

Oh — I suppose I'm expected to tell you how to get a library card.

OK, OK.

Long story short: if you live or work or attend school in New York State, you get your card free; everybody else in the world pays $100 annually.

Go here and follow the instructions to get yours.

[via AW]