Dennis Pierce

The number of audiobooks borrowed through libraries around the world has more than doubled since 2019—a telling statistic that speaks to the exploding popularity of books in audio format.

People are always a library’s greatest assets. The trained and experienced staff who interact with patrons, answer questions, recommend resources, lead story hours, and oversee workshops are what make libraries a vibrant and essential part of their communities. But librarians can’t be everywhere all at once. This is where technology can help.

Libraries have always been much more than just repositories for books and other materials. They’ve also been centers for community learning and brought people together to improve their lives. This goal has become even more important in the digital era.

Libraries have always been much more than just repositories for books and other materials. They’ve also been centers for community learning and brought people together to improve their lives. This goal has become even more important in the digital era.

"Audio is the fastest-growing format in the industry,” says HarperAudio Associate Publisher Brad Hill. This rapid growth has encouraged publishers to experiment with audiobook production. For instance, publishers are releasing more audiobook originals, adding more music and sound effects, and creating multicast productions that resemble radio plays.
 

Independent book publishing is thriving, and it’s not hard to see why. Indie presses meet a need for an eclectic array of works—sometimes too niche for corporate publishing—that cater to a broad range of interests and tastes.

Now is an exciting time for fans of Christian fiction. Readers looking for spiritual messages embedded within compelling stories have a wide variety of subgenres to choose from, from Regency-era romances to contemporary rom-coms, mysteries, and even political thrillers.

For library professionals, keeping up with a constantly changing information landscape can be demanding. A master’s in library and information science (MLIS) degree program prepares librarians with the skills they’ll need to navigate this shifting landscape successfully, both now and in the future.

Lifestyle-related content experienced a huge surge in interest during the pandemic, as people learned new hobbies and skills as a strategy for coping during the height of COVID. However, life and style topics continue to be quite popular among consumers, even as the pandemic recedes as a public health emergency.