Off to Read the Wizard

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It’s difficult to miss the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile, which is stationed in the corner of a large parking lot across the street from the Washington Convention Center. But inside is not just the expected product information. The Digital Bookmobile is also home to a project called Lend Your Voice.

“Lend Your Voice is a community-sourced audiobook production,” said Katherine Fleming of Random House Audio Listening Library, which is partnering with OverDrive on the project. During Annual, some 300 librarians—and passers-by—will collaborate on an audiobook recording of The Wizard of Oz.

Recording slots are available on a drop-in basis with no reservations needed. Each participant gets a few paragraphs from the book to give his or her particular spin to.

“The reaction to the project has been phenomenal,” Fleming said. “I think everyone’s had a lot of fun with it, and we have too.”

The project has a charitable component as well. When production is completed, the audiobook will be made available for download for a suggested donation, and all proceeds from those donations will go to First Book.