June is Audiobook Appreciation Month, a time to celebrate another form of reading that more and more people are enjoying. Audiobooks are an accessible way to read for visually impaired individuals, useful to those on the go such as driving or exercising, and are a great way for everyone to relax with a good book while resting your eyes. Audiobooks also count toward your Summer Reading Program goal!
The American Library Association, opens a new window (ALA)* lists the history of the medium, from the early days of cassette tapes to today, where digital formats are gaining in popularity. The ALA also shares research into the ways that audiobooks benefit all readers, particularly reluctant and beginning ones.
Browse the library catalog for new fiction and new nonfiction audiobooks. Santa Clara County Library District also has multiple online platforms that offer digital audiobooks. Give a listen to these collections!
Libby by OverDrive is easy to navigate and provides over 38,000 titles to choose from. Find audiobooks to listen to right away with the "available now" filter in the app. Enjoy titles from one to three weeks based on category. Stream in your browser or download to the app. Libby also offers a Spanish collection and another curated specially for kids.
Hoopla offers a wide selection of content, including digital audiobooks. Stream audiobooks in your browser, or download and listen on the go with the Hoopla app! Borrow up to 10 Hoopla titles a month in with no waitlists. Plus, BingePasses allow for unlimited access of curated premium content collections for seven days.
The Palace Project is a free statewide collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks provided in partnership with the California State Library. Enjoy thousands of popular titles any time you like!
*"Audiobook Appreciation Month." American Library Association, May 1, 2024. https://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/promo/audiobook, opens a new window (Accessed June 2, 2025). Document ID: 16f31f64-b01c-4e3d-a67d-dcb8d37bb8c7
