Phillips Memorial Library audiobook collection
Phillips Memorial Library has purchased audiobooks of some DWC texts and other commonly read books, available to students and staff through the app Libby. Studies have demonstrated that listening to audiobooks activates the same cognitive and linguistic areas of the brain as reading print, while also improving vocabulary acquisition, critical thinking, and engagement.
Here are just a few scientifically supported benefits of using audiobooks:
Increased accessibility: They provide equitable access for people with dyslexia, visual impairments, or other learning differences.
Enhanced engagement: Narration brings texts to life, making complex or dense material more approachable and enjoyable.
Expanded comprehension: Audiobooks help readers master pronunciation quickly, better understand the emotional pitch of a text, and forces speed readers to engage more fully with a text.
Get the most out of audiobooks by engaging in critical listening with these tips:
Follow along with the text: Listening while reading can improve decoding skills and reinforce comprehension.
Use playback tools: Playback tools should be used to replay difficult passages and adjust speed to match individual processing speed.
Listen in focused sessions: Treat audiobook time as active study, not background noise.
Pause and reflect: Use the pause button to take breaks and summarize the content to deepen understanding.
If you’re interested, please check out our audiobooks on the app Libby, through our library catalog, or online through providence.overdrive.com
Happy listening!
