Putting Books on the radio makes the audio book format cheaply available to a wide audience. The books given this form of presentation include both fiction and non-fiction and are read either by an actor or by the author. The BBC does many of these "talking book serials" every week across their range of radio stations. Here is a list of radio programmes which feature short stories, poetry or whole books in a serialised form:

On BBC Radio 4:

• "Afternoon Reading" external link features either a short story or an abridged book.

• "Book at Bedtime" external link presents modern classics, new works by leading writers and literature from around the world.

• "Book of the Week" external link Non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history.

• "Poetry Please" external lonk a selection of poems chosen by listeners.

On BBC World Service:

• "Off the Shelf" external link serialised books of many types.

On BBC 7:

• "The 7th Dimension" external link is sometimes a book reading or (more often) a dramatisation.

• "Best Sellers" external link best sellers both fiction and non-fiction.

• "Little Toe" external link serialises books for young children.

• "Big Toe" external link serialises books for older children.

On BBC 6Music

• "Steve Lamacq" external link Steve Lamacq's Library of Rock and Roll related books.

• "6Music's reading festival" (yes, reading festival as opposed to Reading Festival which is something else) external link Six Music celebrates reading, writing and books.

On RTÉ Radio 1:

• "Fiction 15" external link newly-commissioned writing for younger listeners.

• "Francis Macmanus Short Story" external link short stories.

• "The Poem and the Place" external link brings together poems and the places which inspired them.

On ABC Radio National:

• "The Book Reading" external link classic and contemporary fiction by Australian and world writers, read by actors.

• "Short story" external link two short stories a week.

On ABC local radio:

• "Short story project" external link short stories from around Australia.

On Oneword:

• Virtually all of Oneword's programming, 24 hours a day. external link

Radio programs | Literature | Accessibility