Happy June, library world! Is getting into a good audiobook (or several) on your bucket list for this summer? If so, I’m right there with you! Audiobooks are such convenient entertainment to fit into even a packed summer schedule because they can be your companion while completing routine chores, driving hours in the car, lounging outside, or really whenever and wherever you can be absorbed in a story. And in June, students can put down their assigned reading and explore the other topics or fictional worlds that speak to them, so it’s no wonder, then, why June is audiobook appreciation month.
A Spotlight on Downloadable Audiobooks
Audiobooks have come a long way since the days when I treasured my Harry Potter CD box set, and more people are listening to them than ever before. According to Edison Research, over half of adults in the U.S. (52%) have listened to an audiobook, and 38% say they have in the past year. Libraries’ collections are evolving in response to the changing technology and growing demand for e-audio materials. In 2024, Library Journal (LJ) and School Library Journal (SLJ) partnered with the Audio Publishers Association (APA) to conduct a survey about audiobooks in U.S. public libraries and the results were published in the report “Audiobooks and Public Libraries 2024 Audiobook Survey Report.” This survey confirmed what many of us may already be observing: A library’s audiobook collection is as important as ever, but developing it comes with challenges.
Libraries across the nation have been seeing a shift from physical audiobooks to downloadable audiobooks for several years. In this report by Library Journal, the vast majority (90%) of U.S. public libraries surveyed reported that circulation of their adult digital audiobook collection has increased either moderately or significantly in the past year. On the other hand, 70% reported decreasing circulation of physical adult audiobooks. Overall, adult audiobook circulation is reported to be 70% digital and 30% physical. Physical items are a higher percentage of children’s audiobook circulation, accounting for 44%.
In Colorado specifically, we can see how libraries are adapting to the shifting landscape of audiobook formats. Up until recently, the number of physical and downloadable audiobooks in each CO public library was tracked year over year. From 2017 to 2023 the total number of physical audiobooks in all public libraries across the state was almost cut in half, while the number of downloadable units doubled.
Although Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (PLAR) no longer collects data on audiobooks specifically, it does count collection numbers for both e-audio and physical audio materials which includes audiobooks but also other audio materials such as music. Additionally, the PLAR now tracks circulation of e-audio materials, though 2024 was the first year this data was collected so no year-to-year trends in CO public library audiobook circulation can be identified yet. The latest data does show us that, of responding libraries, close to three out of every four (72%) increased their downloadable audio (or e-audio) collections from 2023 to 2024. For physical audio collections the inverse is true, with 72% of responding libraries reporting smaller physical audio collections in 2024 than 2023. This shows that, while the majority of public libraries in Colorado are embracing digital audio collections, not all are actively changing their collections in this way.
Who’s Borrowing Audiobooks?
Of course, when curating a collection, it helps to know who the primary users are. We don’t have any data on who is borrowing audiobooks specifically in Colorado, and I want to preface this information with a reminder that audiobook users comprise a huge and vastly diverse segment of the population spanning all ages and demographics. While on a deep dive into audiobook statistics, however, it was interesting to note who the most enthusiastic audiobook listeners appear to be.
Multiple sources, including Publishers Weekly, have reported that audiobooks are most popular among younger adults aged 18-44. Reporting differs on whether women or men are more avid audiobook listeners, and reports have changed from year-to-year, suggesting that gender is not a strong predictor of interest in audiobooks. An increase in children listening to audiobooks has also been noted, with a subsequent 41% increase in children’s audiobooks from 2020 to 2022 as reported by Publishers Weekly. Children and YA audiobook circulation is asked about specifically in Library Journal’s Audiobooks and Public Libraries survey, and more respondents report increasing circulation of children’s physical audiobooks (54%) than children’s digital audiobooks (24%).
When thinking about who is borrowing audiobooks, it is also important to consider what languages they are offered in. The “Audiobooks and Public Libraries 2024 Audiobook Survey Report” finds that over a third (35%) of public libraries do not offer adult audiobooks in languages other than English, and a similar portion (33%) don’t offer children’s audiobooks in languages other than English. For libraries serving less than 10,000 people, less than half reported having any non-English audiobooks for children or adults in their collections. Overall, 91% of libraries reported that non-English audiobooks make up 5% or less of their total adult audiobook collection. This is at odds with the portion of the U.S. population estimated to speak a language other than English at home, which is around 22% according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
What Are They Borrowing?
Fiction appears to be preferred by audiobook listeners over nonfiction. Again, according to Library Journal’s “Audiobooks and Public Libraries 2024 Audiobook Survey Report,” it is estimated that more than three out of every four adult audiobooks circulated (78%) are fiction, and unsurprisingly, an even higher percentage (87%) of children’s audiobooks circulated are fiction. Thrillers and suspense was found to be the most popular genre among adult audiobook borrowers, and biographies was the most popular nonfiction genre reported. Other genres that made the top of the list included general fiction, mysteries, romance, history, self-help, and memoirs.
Public libraries were also asked whether audiobook listeners exclusively borrow audiobooks or if they borrow multiple types of materials. Responses revealed that around three out of every four adult borrowers (74%) engage with a variety of formats, borrowing audiobooks along with print or e-books for example. For borrowers of children or YA materials an even higher percentage (87%) borrow multiple types of materials. This shows that, for many people, borrowing audiobooks is just one of multiple ways they are using the library.
How Are Libraries Meeting Demand?
Of course, there are many avenues beyond libraries for audiobook listeners to find the titles they are looking for, but libraries break down barriers to access by offering materials free of charge. Edison Research found that 46% of all audiobook listeners are utilizing libraries’ free services for their audiobooks. Libraries are then tasked with growing their collections to match the rising popularity of audiobooks, which is far from free for the libraries. The challenges libraries face include appropriately balancing a collection between physical and digital materials in response to a community’s needs and navigating the variety of access models offered for the digital materials purchased.
Four different access models were asked about in Library Journal’s audiobook survey to public libraries: one copy/one user, simultaneous use, metered access, and pay per use. The one copy/one user access model was most common, and all libraries reported using it. More than half of libraries (52%) reported that this access model applied to over half of their audiobook collection. This access model is used even more frequently in smaller libraries serving less than 10,000 people and was also most often reported as the preferred access model by libraries of all sizes. The next most preferred access model, simultaneous use, is reportedly used by 83% of libraries and most often applies to 1-25% of their collection. Although less preferred, metered access was used by more libraries (92%) and generally applied to a larger portion of the collection than simultaneous use. The least preferred access model, pay per use, is used by 73% of libraries and most often applies to 1-25% of their collection.
Libraries reported choosing which audiobooks to add to their collection through a variety of methods, but most often they considered patron requests. Positive audiobook reviews, award winners, and vendor e-newsletters or websites were the three next most common deciding factors.
To investigate further how libraries are purchasing their audio materials, new federally required questions were added to the public library survey: Do libraries provide access to e-audio materials purchased solely by their administrative entity or purchased by a collective group, such as a library consortium? In Colorado, the majority of libraries (69%) provided e-audio purchased by a collective group, followed by 46% that provided e-audio purchased by their administration, and 32% that had e-audio purchased through both methods.
Ensuring All can Enjoy Stories!
The “Audiobooks and Public Libraries 2024 Audiobook Survey Report” shows that smaller libraries are more likely to spend a larger portion of their audiobook funds on physical audiobooks than digital audiobooks. Libraries serving the smallest populations (10,000 or less people) were the only ones to estimate that over half of their adult audiobook funds (53%) still go to physical audiobooks on average. This falls in step with circulation differences between smaller and larger libraries. Although adult digital audiobook circulation is higher than physical audiobook circulation across all library sizes, libraries serving less than 10,000 people were the only group to report that close to half (45%) of their adult audiobook circulation still comes from physical audiobooks on average. Libraries serving 10,000-24,999 people estimated that around 34% of their adult audiobook circulation is still from physical materials, and the percentages continue to decrease as the size of the libraries reporting increases.
In the years to come, some libraries (16%) are working to eliminate physical adult audiobooks altogether, but a greater percentage (46%) have no plans to eliminate physical adult audiobooks. The remaining 39% don’t know, or selected “other” and explained in more detail their plans for physical adult audiobooks. Their responses included plans to only eliminate CDs but not Playaways or decrease the collection without necessarily eliminating it altogether. A smaller percentage (14%) plan to eliminate physical children’s audiobook materials.
The decision to stop, decrease, or keep spending on physical audiobooks is one that a library should make for itself based on need and demand in its own community. It is clear in many cases that use is shifting to digital formats and physical audiobooks may see low circulation as well as be difficult to find and expensive to purchase. When making this decision, though, it’s also important to consider the barriers to access that digital audiobooks may present. Not everyone has access to the technology needed to utilize the apps containing the digital audiobooks or the ability to navigate these systems.
As many libraries transition their audio collections to digital platforms, it sheds more light than ever before on the importance of entities such as the Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL), which provides access to large print, braille, and audio materials for people who can’t read standard print. CTBL provides accessible audio players and cartridges of audiobooks to people that qualify for their services. Some of their patrons use digital collections but some do not, and CTBL opens up a large collection of materials to patrons regardless of how they choose to listen. Whether through the local public library, CTBL, or elsewhere, the growing availability of audiobooks is making it possible for many people to enjoy stories and gain knowledge that they may not have otherwise had the chance to enjoy.
This post is part of our series, “The LRS Number.” In this series, we highlight statistics that help tell the story of the 21st-century library.
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