Reading doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people prefer to listen while following along with text. For other readers, audio support can make the difference between struggling with a book and enjoying it.
Thanks to donor support, Lakeview Library and Sequoya Library were able to purchase new audio-enabled books that help make reading more accessible for children and teens.
Audio-enabled books combine printed text with built-in narration, allowing readers to listen while following along on the page. 
According to Marc Gartler, Supervisor of Alicia Ashman and Sequoya Libraries, “hearing and seeing text simultaneously can help people with vision impairments, or learning disabilities such as dyslexia or ADHD.” This format can also benefit emerging readers, English language learners, and anyone who enjoys a multimodal reading experience.
“Equitable access to reading looks like offering a wide variety of options and removing as many barriers as possible, so individuals can choose what they’d like to read,” said Madeleine Kain, Youth Services Librarian at Lakeview Library. “Kids who are learning to read can listen to the story while reading along. That fun and engaging combination is beneficial to the learning process, it boosts comprehension, and it builds confidence.”
Kain sees very young children in the library walk straight over to the Audio Enabled Book collection, confidently pick up a book, press play, turn the pages and enjoy the story. “It is apparent that they’ve gotten very comfortable with this format and know just what to expect,” she adds.
Kain adds, “based on how much these books get checked out — and how much use they get in the library, it’s clear the library’s collection of audio-enabled children’s books helps to grow a love of reading among children and families.”
The benefits extend beyond childhood. Families use the books to read together, and caregivers who may not feel confident reading aloud can still share storie
s with the children in their lives.
One interaction stands out in particular. Gartler recalls helping a recent immigrant find English-language materials for her child. When she discovered audio-enabled books, she was thrilled.
“Audio enabled books could do what she could not—read out loud in English to her child,” Gartler said. “For both of them, audio enabled books are hugely impactful.”
Libraries have long adapted services and technologies to help more people access information. Audio-enabled books are one more way M
adison Public Library is ensuring that everyone can engage with reading in a format that works for them.
As we celebrate National Audiobook Month in June and Disability Pride Month in July, these materials remind us that accessibility benefits the entire community. When barriers are removed, more people can discover new ideas, learn new skills, connect with stories, and experience the joy of reading.
Thanks to donors like you, Madison Public Library can continue investing in innovative formats and assistive technologies that expand access for readers of all ages and abilities. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve access,” Gartler said, “and it’s exciting when a new format comes along that really gets the job done for some subset of readers.”
Your generosity helps ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, explore, and belong at the library.
If expanding access to reading is important to you, consider making a donation today.
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