Celebrating Audiobooks from Our Libraries!

Happy June, library world! Is getting into a good audiobook (or several) on your bucket list for this summer? If so, I’m right there with you! Audiobooks are such convenient entertainment to fit into even a packed summer schedule because they can be your companion while completing routine chores, driving hours in the car, lounging outside, or really whenever and wherever you can be absorbed in a story. And in June, students can put down their assigned reading and explore the other topics or fictional worlds that speak to them, so it’s no wonder, then, why June is audiobook appreciation month.

A Spotlight on Downloadable Audiobooks

Audiobooks have come a long way since the days when I treasured my Harry Potter CD box set, and more people are listening to them than ever before. According to Edison Research, over half of adults in the U.S. (52%) have listened to an audiobook, and 38% say they have in the past year. Libraries’ collections are evolving in response to the changing technology and growing demand for e-audio materials. In 2024, Library Journal (LJ) and School Library Journal (SLJ) partnered with the Audio Publishers Association (APA) to conduct a survey about audiobooks in U.S. public libraries and the results were published in the report “Audiobooks and Public Libraries 2024 Audiobook Survey Report.” This survey confirmed what many of us may already be observing: A library’s audiobook collection is as important as ever, but developing it comes with challenges…

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