Surrey Libraries’ Audiobook Club a gateway to literature for all

IN the heart of Surrey’s City Centre, Surrey Libraries’ Audiobook Club program brings together book enthusiasts who share a common challenge: accessing traditional print media. This is one of the many programs and resources available from Surrey Libraries’ Accessibility Services which helps connect patrons facing barriers to library services.

Participants in the Audiobook Club meet monthly and get the opportunity to listen to and discuss new books. The club is particularly popular among patrons with visual impairments as the audiobook format gives them the opportunity to enjoy popular titles through a more accessible medium. Like other book clubs offered by Surrey Libraries, the program also helps patrons connect with others in their community while encouraging literacy and learning.

“It’s just great to get together with others and it gets you out of the house,” noted Lovette, a participant in the audiobook club for over 10 years. “It gets you reading things you wouldn’t normally read.”

“I really enjoy the friendship because it has really brought a lot of friendship into our lives” another participant commented. “We’ve read a lot of books that we would not normally read, so it has really opened our eyes that way.”

Public Services Technician and program host Braden Huxtable has organized the program at Surrey Libraries City Centre branch for several years. Braden coordinates the meeting times, leads discussions, and selects the titles from a variety of genres from bestsellers to historical fiction to Canadiana, ensuring there’s a story for every listener.

“The program is as much a friend group as it is a book club, so we spend some time sharing what’s going on in our lives as well as discussing the books,” Braden said. “Often, the books we discuss lead to stories and anecdotes of personal experience which really adds a lot to the discussion.”

Surrey Libraries Accessibility Services extends beyond the Audiobook Club and offers many other services and resources for people with visual or other impairments. For more information, visit surreylibraries.ca/services/accessibility-services.