reading

By: Molly Mazur

Libraries are a beacon of hope for not just those that love to read, but all local community members. In times of distress, escaping to the world of reading is highly beneficial for the mind. In fact, reading is proven to increase your physical and mental health, and teaches social-emotional skills like empathy. Best of all…libraries make it free and easy to explore all of their amazing local perks. 

Access to books is just the tip of the iceberg (or first page of the novel!), when it comes to local Oregon libraries. They’re an incredible resource for classes, access to materials and goods, community events, and other spaces you would not expect to be library-adjacent with the swipe of a library card. 

At their heart, libraries are more than just rooms full of books; they’re the ultimate “hangout with a purpose” for any neighborhood. They’re one of the last places on earth where you can just exist without having to spend a dime. Whether it’s a spot for a kid to discover a new hobby, a place for neighbors to meet up, or a hub where local history and different cultures are kept alive, libraries act like the glue that holds a community together. They remind us that we’re all part of something bigger and that having a shared space to learn and chill is what actually makes a city feel like a home.This in turn has substantial mental health benefits. When libraries promote social and communal engagement without barriers, it has a substantial effect on mental wellness by minimizing social isolation and presenting opportunities of meaning, learning, and creativity. 

Check out these amazing things happening at libraries near you!

PDX: Multnomah County Libraries 

Live in an old house?: At your local library, you can track down architectural and social history of your home. In addition, you’ll find archives of local newspapers and other resources dating back to the 1800’s!

Free tickets: The Multnomah County Libraries offer My Discovery Passes that give you access to free tickets to tons of museums, cultural attractions, and live performances. Use your library card to explore the best parts of the Portland area, all for free!

For Children and Teens: At the Rockwood location, children and teens have access to the Makerspace, that’s just for them. In this learning environment, they can access laptops with creative software, sewing machines, 3D printers, and craft supplies.

Cultural Events: Your local libraries have tons of free cultural events. From Mexican bingo to Somali music and poetry for women, it’s a wonderful way to get to know your community and all its amazing culture it has to offer. Check out their April events calendar here.

EUG: Eugene Public Library

Crochet, Philosophy, Concerts and More!: The Eugene public library hosts a wide range of community events including classes, philosophy circles, concerts, and how-to nights, like voter registration. Check out their April events calendar here! 

CultureGrams: Love to learn about different countries and their culture and customs? Free with your library card is an explorative platform just for this. 

Lifelong Learners: Through Brainfuse, the Eugene library offers live online tutoring and homework help, help writing resumes and cover letters, and test prep for the GED, high school equivalency, and U.S. citizenship tests.

References 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11303134/

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

For a growing number of Americans, the answer to “What are you reading?” is actually something they’re listening to.

Audiobooks have exploded in popularity in recent years, fueled by busy schedules, long commutes, and the convenience of consuming stories while multitasking. 

But the rise of audiobooks has sparked a surprisingly heated debate: Does listening to a book “count” as reading?

Science offers a nuanced answer. In many ways, listening and reading are remarkably similar. But when it comes to memory, comprehension, and cognitive development, there are also meaningful differences.

Reading Helps Build Vocabulary and Memory

Reading also provides visual and spatial cues that strengthen learning.

When you encounter an unfamiliar word in print, you see:

• How it’s spelled
• Where it appears on the page
• The surrounding sentence structure

Those details help the brain build stronger associations and improve vocabulary acquisition.

With audiobooks, words arrive and disappear quickly. There’s less opportunity to pause and decode meaning through context clues.

Reading also creates what psychologists sometimes call “spatial memory.” Many readers can remember that an important idea appeared near the top of a page or in a specific chapter. These visual landmarks can improve recall and comprehension.

Listening doesn’t offer the same kind of cognitive map.

Multitasking Changes Everything

Another key factor is attention.

Most audiobook listening happens while people are:

• Driving
• Exercising
• Cleaning
• Cooking
• Commuting

While this convenience is one of audiobooks’ greatest strengths, divided attention comes at a cost.

Research consistently shows that multitasking reduces retention and comprehension. If your attention is split between traffic and a plot twist, your brain simply absorbs less information.

That doesn’t make audiobooks ineffective. It just means they may not be ideal for material you truly need to study or remember in detail.

When Audiobooks Shine

Audiobooks offer enormous benefits, especially for people who struggle to find time to sit down with a physical book.

They can be especially useful for:

• Leisure reading
• Long commutes
• Exercise sessions
• Revisiting familiar books
• Increasing overall exposure to books and ideas
• People with visual impairments or reading difficulties

For many people, listening to a book is infinitely better than not engaging with books at all.

When Traditional Reading Is Better

Reading may be the better option when:

• You need to retain detailed information
• The material is academically challenging
• The text is dense or complex
• You want to annotate or highlight ideas
• You’re learning new vocabulary or technical concepts

Reading encourages slower, more deliberate engagement with the material, something that often improves comprehension and long-term memory.

The Verdict

So, is listening to an audiobook as good as reading?

The answer depends on your goal.

If your goal is entertainment, storytelling, or absorbing general ideas, audiobooks are remarkably effective. Neuroscience suggests the brain processes spoken and written narratives in highly similar ways.

But if your goal is deep comprehension, critical analysis, or long-term retention, traditional reading still appears to have an edge.

Ultimately, the best format may simply be the one that helps you engage with more books consistently. Whether you read with your eyes or your ears, spending time with stories and ideas is almost always better than not engaging at all.