Despite the major setbacks the library world has suffered so far this year, summer reading programs are in full swing in many libraries across the country. When OverDrive reached out to me to introduce its new VP of North America schools, Renee Davenport, I wanted to know what she thought about the importance of summer reading and preventing summer slide. 

Davenport is a former elementary school teacher and educational technology leader who previously served as OverDrive’s first VP of education. Before that, she was VP and general manager of education sales at Learning Ally. When she joined OverDrive, she said in a press release, “OverDrive’s mission and values resonate deeply with my own. As a former teacher and lifelong advocate for equitable education, I believe literacy is a right—not a privilege. I’m excited to join a company that not only shares that belief but is uniquely positioned to ensure that all students have access to the books and resources they need to succeed through powerful platforms like Sora.”

Our conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. 

Scardilli: I’d like to know your thoughts on summer reading as it pertains to different types of librarians. For example, what can school librarians do to encourage summer reading before the break starts? And many public librarians run summer reading programs already. What would you like them to know about how they can best help young readers? 

Davenport: For school librarians, it really comes down to personalized engagement. Guiding students to discover genres or series they genuinely love—that ‘can’t-put-it-down’ feeling—is key; it hooks them. This summer and beyond, librarians should lean heavily into audiobooks; they’re a fantastic bridge for both children and parents, building confidence and comprehension for families. Ultimately, helping students and their families see that summer reading isn’t just about avoiding the ‘slide,’ but about discovering joy and setting themselves up for future success, is the goal.

Scardilli: Sora has its own summer reading program, Sweet Reads. How is it going so far this year? What should librarians know about how they can participate in the future?

Davenport: The Sora Sweet Reads program is proving to be a powerful tool for encouraging summer reading outside the classroom. Designed to make finding their next captivating story easy, this initiative helps students keep their literary skills sharp all summer long. We’re thrilled to report a significant year-over-year increase in overall checkouts. Even more impressively, audiobook checkouts have surged by 152%. This remarkable growth highlights how students are engaging with long-form narratives, no matter the format, which is incredibly encouraging in today’s distraction-filled world.

Librarians interested in participating in future Sora Sweet Reads programs should look for announcements on the OverDrive Resource Center or reach out to their OverDrive account manager for details on upcoming registration.

Scardilli: You were an elementary school teacher before you moved into the educational technology space. How have you transferred the skills you learned in schools to your job at OverDrive?

Davenport: Moving from elementary school teaching to educational technology has been a powerful transition, directly leveraging the skills I used in the classroom. Teaching multiple grades across different states gave me an invaluable, nuanced understanding of curriculum flow and the diverse challenges educators face daily. This unique perspective allows me to genuinely connect with teachers, recognizing their real-world needs and inspiring me to build innovative tools that truly ease their workload.

Scardilli: Audiobooks continue to grow and grow in popularity for both children and adults. What role do audiobooks play in supplementing a summer reading program? Why do you think they’re important? 

Davenport: Audiobooks play a critical and increasingly important role in supplementing summer reading programs, acting as a bridge for both children and adults. They are vital because they can build confidence, improve comprehension, and foster connection within the home, especially for the significant number of K–3 students not reading at grade level and parents facing their own literacy gaps. 

Scardilli: Let’s talk about the adults—what trends are you seeing in literacy that OverDrive can help with? What’s the best way to keep people reading long after they leave school? 

Davenport: We’re seeing a significant trend where many adults struggle with literacy, and it impacts their daily lives. OverDrive addresses this by offering vast, accessible digital collections through public libraries, providing a non-intimidating gateway to reading for all. To keep adults reading long-term, we must make it convenient; audiobooks are perfect for this. They allow busy individuals to enjoy captivating narratives while doing other tasks like cooking or commuting, transforming mundane moments into opportunities for engagement. This flexibility helps integrate reading into busy lives, fostering lifelong learning and enjoyment for everyone. 

Scardilli: Is there anything else you’d like to share about summer reading, back-to-school preparedness, and/or literacy? 

Davenport: What truly underpins all our efforts is the understanding that literacy is the foundation for lifelong success and engagement, both in and out of school. By continuing to innovate with accessible tools like audiobooks and fostering a love of reading through personalized discovery, we can ensure every student and adult can thrive. By championing literacy in all its forms, we empower individuals to confidently achieve their full potential, well beyond any classroom walls.

Scardilli: Just for fun, what books are you currently reading and enjoying? I just finished Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it lived up to the hype! 

Davenport: The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley. I’m getting ready to start The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion next.