Does listening to an audiobook count as reading?
Start Listening Today
Check out the library’s digital content.
Find Award Winners
Browse audiobooks that rise above the rest.
Does listening to an audiobook count as reading? Yes!
Is listening to an audiobook good for you? Definitely!
Can you check out audiobooks for free with your library card? Absolutely!
Librarians and teachers agree that listening to audiobooks is an important part of reading. Not only is listening to a book enjoyable and convenient, it improves language acquisition, reading comprehension and vocabulary. Audiobooks help students learn material at or above their grade level and fuel their excitement to read and learn more.
Adults who may not have the time or interest to sit for hours with a book can log dozens of hours listening to their favorite sci-fi sagas, true crime thrillers, romance series, biographies, and more! Listening to audiobooks while doing house chores or yard work can help you stay on task when tackling tedious jobs. Try plugging in your headphones and turning on an audiobook while exercising or going for a walk to distract you from the number of steps you’re logging. Or just chill on the couch, close your eyes and sink into the story.
Audiobooks can turn long commutes into cherished reading time. Waiting in your car to pick up the kids? Turn on an audiobook! Planning a long road trip? Choose audiobooks everyone can listen to and no one will think to ask “Are we there yet?” Plus, listening to books together creates great conversation starters.
Check Out Audiobooks with Your Library Card:
It’s easy to hit your reading goals and load up on audiobooks for free with your library card! Our staff will be happy to help get you started!
Browse our catalog by author, title or subject and turn on filters for eAudiobook or Audiobook CD. Or head straight to our digital collection to find a large selection of eAudiobooks free to check out with your library card.
Are you new to eAudiobooks and want to learn how to listen to them on your phone or through your Bluetooth speakers? Stop by your library’s Help Desk and we’ll be happy to help you learn how to listen to audiobooks on your device.
Easily find more books read by your favorite narrator by searching a narrator’s name in the catalog. Or simply tap or click on the narrator’s name in the record of the book you’re listening to to see a list of all their work in our collection.
A limited number of eAudiobooks are available as full cast productions complete with music and sound effects. On Hoopla search for “dramatic adaptations” and on Libby use the search term “graphicaudio” (all one word) to discover these titles.
Start listening to audiobooks and fall in love with reading in a brand new way! We’re excited to help you get started. Below is a list of resources to guide you to the best in audiobooks for all ages.
Find Audiobook Award Winners:
Grammy Awards
Celebrities’ award-winning storytelling and narration.
The Audies
View the best titles in audio publishing.
Earphones Awards
Leading narrators bring stories to life.
Odyssey Award
The top audiobooks produced for young listeners.
Audiobook Reviews and Resources
AudioFile provides audiobook reviews for adults, kids and teens as well as narrator spotlights. Also listen to their Mon-Fri, six-minute podcast “Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine” for quick audiobook reviews.
Find new audiobook recommendations for all ages each month in Booklist Reader’s “Audiobooks & Videos” section.
A collection of the year’s most outstanding audiobooks curated by librarians from across the country. Plus, each title on the list is matched with three listen-alikes.
A literacy toolkit created by the Audio Publishers Association for parents, educators, and anyone interested in discovering the power of audiobooks and adding them to their own learning program.
