Supporting the notion that audiobook listening is real reading, there is substantial research to show that when we read a physical book or listen to an audiobook title, the same areas in our brain are activated and are processing information. To explore the full-bodied impact of audiobook reading, PW spoke with a school librarian, a public librarian, and a bookseller who are finding unique ways to integrate audiobooks in their school, library, and bookstore, leading to life-changing results for anyone who cares to listen.

Christine Szeluga, the 2026 I Love My Librarian Award Honoree, is a high school media specialist and library advocate at Cranford Public School in Cranford, N.J. Before that, she was a middle school librarian. Her use of audiobooks came out of necessity during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Obviously, we were closed and still wanted our students to be able to access high-interest books and classroom novels,” Szeluga said. “So, when I learned about Sora [a K–12 ebook and audiobook platform], I advocated putting my entire budget into it so we could make sure our kids had access to books during that time.” She feels fortunate that her district continues to trust her ebook and audiobook choices.

“I’ve seen that with my students who have ADHD, when they’re reading books and audiobooks at the same time, they absorb the content better,” Szeluga said. “And, on the other hand, students with the demands of honors classes, sports, and/or after school jobs can also benefit from reading audiobooks. They’re getting the assigned reading done, absorbing more content, and doing it more quickly.”

She noted that another appeal of audiobooks is the compelling narration. “My students are especially drawn to those read by the actual authors,” Szeluga said. “This is because you can hear a real passion as they read. They sometimes change their voices for each character, and as a result, we feel more connected.”

To keep her students plugged into audiobooks and ebooks amid the rising costs of these formats, Szeluga regularly touts the educational value of them to anyone in earshot. She also suggests that fellow media specialists and librarians do the same. As for her students, she urges them to use their local library cards to get Hoopla and Libby apps for even more access. “At the end of the day, we all want what works best for our kids,” Szeluga said. “We want them to become lifelong readers, grasp content, and be successful in life. That’s why we’re here.”

Desiree Bailey, general manager and part-owner of the historic family-run San Marco Books and More in Jacksonville, Fla., started the Audiobook Walking Club last July to pair two popular pastimes, reading and walking, for the store’s multi-tasking, book loving customers—which include teachers, librarians, kids and families, individuals, and their dogs. “Because our readers are looking for both connection and experiences,” Bailey said, “we started events such as a Bookish Happy Hour, a 2026 Reader Challenge, and the Audiobook Walking Club.”

Bailey believes the appeal of the book club is that everyone can read their own titles (ordered through Libros.fm to support the independent bookstore) and attend when their busy schedules allow. “There are no expectations,” she said. “You can be a book nerd and everyone will take you as you are.” Convening on the last Saturday morning of each month, members embark on a 2.5-mile loop that takes them through the scenic nearby San Marcos neighborhood. After their walk, participants often grab coffee and pastries, talk about their books, and roam the store before it opens.

“The conversation usually starts with, ‘How are you doing? What are you reading? Where are you in your book?’ and it turns into a party!” Bailey said. “Some may not have seen each other since the last audiobook walk, and there are lots of new releases to explore.”

Bailey, who also joins the walk each month, likes the easy-going pace as much as her members do. “They’re often seeking a low-key experience without having to perform, speak up, or introduce themselves right away,” she said. “It’s the books that bring them together.” Many of the members attend other store events together and some become friends along the way.

The club’s growing popularity, she believes, is a sign of the times, and organizing the gathering is a service the bookstore is proud to provide. “When you read a book, you’re putting yourself into someone else’s life. Then, when you talk about it with other people, there’s a shared experience. This has great value since we are social creatures by nature,” Bailey said, “and creating a bookish community is really important to us—especially today.”

Neyssa Marin, who is a Latina American librarian at the New York Public Library and a newly-minted school outreach specialist for the Bronx library branches, started an audiobook club out of a need and interest. “As a teen librarian, I hear a lot about teens who don’t like to read,” she said. “But the more I’ve talked with them, the more I’ve discovered that—while some may carry pre-conceived notions that reading’s too difficult, others might be embarrassed or afraid to read aloud, and still others may struggle with being judged by their peers—they still want to read and are eager to explore stories.”

Guided by these discoveries and her own growing love of audiobooks, she asked, “Why don’t we create an audiobook club?” Since she already had teens coming into the library to do crafts and listen to a variety of podcasts, storytimes, and book summaries from YouTube, Marin switched the focus to audiobooks with related crafts, and created the Listen and Create audiobook book club. Their first audiobook title was This Is the Year by Gloria Muñoz (Holiday House, 2025), a sci-fi novel in prose and verse about life, loss, and climate change. As they listened, the teens created collages and posters inspired by the book’s themes, and found a safe space to explore their imagination and creativity.

Marin knew it was a hit when her teens asked to “go back” and listen again to a key plot point or something a character said. “They got really invested in the story and they didn’t want to miss a thing,” she said. Marin has also observed how audiobooks help her Spanish-speaking and ELL teens with pronunciation (as it did when she was practicing English), and foster independent reading when there isn’t anyone at home who can read with them in English.

In her new role as a school outreach librarian, Marin is supporting the NYPL’s My Library NYC program, which offers area educators access to more than 15,000 teacher sets of books, including Playaway audiobook devices. She also regularly visits Bronx elementary schools to host Chapters and Crafts programs that pair listening to audiobook chapters with hands-on activities to extend the stories and build interest in reading. Additionally, Marin instituted her popular Audiobook Tastings program, which encourages readers to sample titles in the hopes that they will add them to their literary diets. “It feels good to make reading better, more accessible, and interesting for my kids,” Marin said. “Every child deserves to fall in love with stories. Sometimes, all it takes is hearing one.”