Summertime, and the Listening Is Easy

Summer can be a great season for many to hit the road or the skies with family and friends in search of new adventures and make time for special projects—but for others, it can quickly become a financial burden.

With school out, many parents find themselves shelling out for the significant cost of summer camp to give their kiddos something to do while they keep up with the responsibilities of full-time jobs that don’t happen to be seasonal. And with the US inflation rate at an all-time high of 3.8 percent as of April 2026, every little bit helps.

Since 2008, the Audiobook Publishers Association (APA) has celebrated Audiobook Appreciation Month in June to raise awareness of this unique and accessible literary medium. According to AudiobooksNow.com, June was chosen because it kicks off the summer reading season, when kids and adults alike have a little more time to tune into their favorite story.

Also, the convenience of audiobooks on the go cannot be overstated. Whether in the air or on the ground, audiobooks are just a tap away on your app of choice, and often an easy-reach sanity saver when you find yourself in the inevitable traffic jam or flight delay.

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However, with the cost of Audible plans ranging from $8.99 per month to upward of $229.50 per year, libraries are becoming the go-to source for many current and hopeful audiophiles. According to National Today, 40 percent of all audiobooks are consumed through public libraries. The Libby app has become the overwhelmingly popular choice for libraries these days, offering a better selection of bestsellers in a variety of formats at a lower cost.

The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library (BLRL) in Monett, MO, recently published an article explaining why they are dropping Hoopla in favor of Libby as of June 30, citing Hoopla’s pay-per-use model as a strain on their budget. With Libby, libraries can own digital titles rather than rent them, allowing them to build a permanent collection of e-books and audiobooks. You can read more about how libraries curate titles in borrowing apps in my past EveryLibrary article “Easy Listening: Audiobook Accessibility for the Budget-Conscious.”

Libby is my personal app of choice through the Houston Public Library (HPL) because it not only connects to HPL’s digital collection but also to the nearby Harris County Public Library (HCPL). And with automatic returns at the end of the borrowing period, it’s one less thing for this busy full-time working mother to worry about.

This also comes in handy for people who may not have easy access to transportation — borrowing and returning digitally eliminates the logistical need to go to the physical building.

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Don’t know where to start? Libby now has a prompt feature that helps you decide what genre you’re in the mood for — beginning with a choice between fiction or nonfiction for adults, teens, or kids, and then breaking down the selection from there. Libby then pops up with an audiobook available within your library network that you can borrow right away.

This is a great option for people who are new to audiobooks, as it allows them to discover a new favorite genre, author, or narrator at no cost.

Another option is to check out Kirkus Audiobook Reviews (formerly AudioFile magazine). Short and to the point, Kirkus features the hottest releases, with Earphones Awards distinctions for the cream of the crop. The reviews are done anonymously and impartially by passionate audiophiles with no agenda on the part of a marketing team.

Audiobooks are also an excellent choice for that long summer road trip with a kid or two (or three) in the backseat. It offers a chance for families to connect by choosing a book together and listening as a group, helping those long stretches with no pit stops or exciting scenery flying by. It’s also a good break from screen time for everyone involved.

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Wanna go old school? Although the selection isn’t as vast, most libraries still offer a reasonable selection of audiobooks on CD.

Librarians can also help curate a listening or reading list of custom titles just for you, whether in person or online. The HPL features the latest new acquisitions on its website, from book titles to the Library of Things to DVDs and vinyl records.

With streaming service options increasing in price—and with availability and quality of titles shifting at a moment’s notice—consumers are ditching the pricey subscriptions and turning toward physical media once more . It’s  just one more way libraries are staying relevant to the public’s ever-shifting needs in these mercurial times.

Lastly, for parents looking for low-cost programs for their kids to enjoy in the summer months, libraries offer low-to-no-cost summer reading programs, such as HCPL’s Unearth a Story, which runs June 1 through August 1. You can help support these programs and others nationwide by signing EveryLibrary’s pledge to vote for libraries. 

Listening is only the beginning. Let libraries be your free copilot this season as you tune into summer mode for yourself and the whole family!

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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