LIBRO FM : BUYING AUDIOBOOKS THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE

Libro.fm encourages more people to read while supporting local, independent bookstores.

Same audiobooks.
Different story.

We decided to find out more and got in touch with Albee Dalbotten Romerom, LIBRO.FM’s Publicity Director.

Could you explain to us how LIBRO.FM works? 

Libro.fm makes it possible for customers to buy audiobooks from 1,500+ local bookstores located in the US and Canada. 

Listeners can support the bookstore of their choosing with audiobook memberships (one audiobook credit per month and 30% off additional purchases), via individual a la carte purchases, and with gift membership purchases (3, 6, or 12 months & credits) for themselves or others. 

More information on how it works is here: https://libro.fm/howitworks

Do you feel that the demand for Audiobooks is rising currently?

Definitely! Audiobooks are the fastest growing category in publishing, with more people than ever listening to audiobooks while doing activities that aren’t possible while reading a print book—like household chores, commuting, and exercising. 

2020 was a year of double-digit audiobook sales increases according to The Audio Publishers Association’s annual survey. 67% of audiobook consumers said that one of the reasons they enjoy listening to audiobooks is to reduce screen time. More info: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/audio-books/article/86531-apa-says-audiobook-sales-rose-12-in-2020.html. 

Can you tell us a bit about how LIBRO.FM works in conjunction with indie bookshops

We see ourselves as a technology partner to local bookstores, and this mission guides us in all that we do. In a nutshell, Libro.fm is a tech company that enables readers to buy audiobooks through their local bookstore, rather than through a big impersonal company. We focus on investing back into the publishing industry and into local communities through our support of local bookstores. 

We split profits with local bookstores, 50/50, and currently partner with more than 9,000 booksellers at more than 1,500 partner bookstores based in the US, Canada, and online. 

Is it possible for people to gift audiobooks through your site?

Yes! You can give someone an individual audiobook. 

You can also give a 3, 6, or 12-month audiobook gift membership. Gift-givers pick the duration of their membership, the recipient picks their audiobooks, and everyone supports their community. This year, all 12-month memberships come with a bonus audiobook credit, so the recipient actually gets 13 audiobooks for the price of 12.

Audiobook gift memberships are available globally, which means that they can be purchased anywhere in the world and redeemed in any location.

Where is LIBRO.FM heading in the future? Will you roll out to Europe too?

Both our day-to-day and our future is focused on continuing to grow and serve our partners and doing so intentionally. 

At the end of last year, we became a Social Purpose Corporation, which is the first step in becoming a B corporation. Basically, we try to do social good first, even if it doesn’t necessarily serve us financially. You can see our 2020 Annual Report here: https://libro.fm/reports/2020

We also continue making improvements to the listening experience so that our current listeners are having the best possible experience and so that more listeners are encouraged to make the switch and begin supporting their local bookstores through Libro.fm. 

While monthly memberships are only available in the US and Canada, international customers can purchase individual audiobooks as well as gift memberships. 

We want to offer as much content to as many people as possible. Right now we sell audiobooks anywhere we’re able to and we’re working with more and more publishers from outside the US to make sure we can offer their audiobooks. 

In the future, we hope to partner with more bookstores in more locations, including internationally, so that we can serve more listeners.