Between school commitments, family commitments, and afterschool activities, finding time to read a book can be hard for most teens. Some may struggle to find time to read books for class, let alone read recreationally.
Audiobooks can be the solution. By building out their young adult audiobook collections, libraries can encourage teens to engage with literature in a new way—using the device already in their pocket.
Science supports audiobook benefits for teens
Despite what some naysayers believe, choosing audiobooks over print books does not decrease comprehension. Neuroscientists at University of California, Berkeley, found that audiobook listeners process information similarly to those who read the same materials.
Additionally, according to a study by the National Literacy Trust, 61% of children and young adults surveyed said that listening to audiobooks helps them understand a subject. Everyone absorbs information differently, and audiobooks can cater to a variety of learning styles. For auditory processers, audiobooks are an alternative way to access books that better fit their reading and learning needs. Audiobook platforms also enable readers to change playback speed, giving them a self-paced experience like reading a book.
Shrinking the gender reading gap with audiobooks
For years, research has found that boys read significantly less than those of other genders at similar ages. In a 2019 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, researchers looked at 300,000 15-year-old students in 64 countries. While the gap in math performance between boys and girls narrows by that age, girls “strongly outperform” boys in reading.
Likewise, the National Literacy Trust survey found that “boys have the lowest levels of reading enjoyment rates (45.6%) compared to girls (55.9%) and those who self-describe their gender as other than boy or girl (60.7%).” However, that same study discovered boys are more likely than girls to say they enjoy listening.
For libraries looking to engage with teens in their community, and especially boys, audiobooks are the way to go.
If you’re ready to add more young adult audiobooks to your digital collection, the OverDrive Audiobook Month Sale is happening until June 30. Save up to 50% on audiobooks for readers (and listeners!) of all ages by visiting OverDrive Marketplace today.
