Working closely with many of the 20,000 public libraries in its network, OverDrive met with library executives to understand the urgent nature of the challenges facing them. In spite of building closures, libraries sought cost-effective solutions to continue serving their communities with vital resources. In response, the company donated ebooks and audiobooks to meet the spike in demand, created tools for libraries to promote their services, stepped up virtual programs that connected readers and provided other valuable services.

During the peak of the Black Lives Matter protests and calls for social justice, OverDrive donated no-cost ebooks and audiobooks to more than 19,000 public libraries worldwide including Black Lives Matter and Own Voices & Diversity Books for Students. Plus, OverDrive created the Diverse Reads Reading Challenge, filling the void of connection brought on by the pandemic and encouraging patrons to read more broadly and discuss the books with others. The challenge was raised to read an ebook or audiobook that features a POC main character, LGBTQ+ main character, written by a black author or features an historical event.

OverDrive provided helpful tools such as free marketing kits for libraries, a webinar on how to promote the digital library during the pandemic, social media graphics and additional training for library staff as needed. In order to provide new opportunities for virtual connections, OverDrive provided simultaneous use access to select titles for programs like Big Library Read, the largest global digital book club. Through this popular program, libraries and their patrons around the world can connect virtually and discuss the latest book club title.

With physical locations closed for several months, our digital collection became even more important in connecting readers with books, supporting families with home learning resources, and serving our community,” said Kady Ferris, Electronic Content Librarian at Multnomah County Library. “In the past year, we’ve seen unprecedented demand for digital resources across multiple languages, learning materials, and anti-racist titles. OverDrive stepped up to help libraries meet the demand by providing unlimited access to hundreds of e-books and audiobooks for free. Thanks to this support and OverDrive’s curated collection tools, Multnomah County Library checked out a record-breaking 4.3 million e-books and audiobooks in 2020.

Because of the high demand for ebooks and the incredible efforts of librarians, OverDrive has seen a massive spike in digital reading on its reading app Libby. Since the start of the pandemic, OverDrive has seen a 42% year-over-year increase in digital book checkouts. Last year, a record 102 public library systems from around the world empowered readers to borrow over 1 million ebooks and audiobooks from their digital collections. This represents the most systems ever to reach this milestone through OverDrive. Contributing factors include increased digital book usage due to the pandemic, elevated interest in social justice titles and BIPOC authors and strong circulation growth for children’s and young adult titles because of remote learning.

Noteworthy achievements include Toronto Public Library attaining the highest number of checkouts in OverDrive history for the 8^th time (8 million) and Los Angeles Public Library earning the title of #1 library system in the U.S. for the second year in a row. The complete list of Million Checkout Club libraries can be found here.

Through Libby, users have free access with a valid library card to ebooks, audiobooks, comic books, magazines, cookbooks and more from their local library. To begin borrowing from your local library, download the Libby app from the App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit www.overdrive.com.

About OverDrive
OverDrive strives to create “a world enlightened by reading.” Serving a growing network of 65,000 libraries and schools in 84 countries, OverDrive delivers the industry’s largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and other content through award-winning apps. The Libby reading app for libraries is one of Popular Mechanics’ 20 Best Apps of the Decade, while the student reading app Sora is one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2019. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and was named a Certified B Corp in 2017.

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Instant Digital Cards allow residents in a library’s service area to instantly sign up for a library card in just 30 seconds using only their cell phone number. Since the global pandemic closed library buildings and forced readers to find new ways to access their local library, there has been a huge spike in Instant Digital Card signups. As of August 26, more than 500K Instant Digital Cards have been created in 2020, compared to the 142K created in all of 2019. Ebook and audiobook checkouts from readers using an Instant Digital Card have increased over 400 percent year-over-year to nearly 5 million. More than 77 library systems are currently using the Instant Digital Card program, compared to just 36 in 2019.   

“When the pandemic began in earnest in the U.S., the Ohio Digital Library (ODL) enrolled in the Instant Digital Card (IDC) service. ODL has 181 member libraries, many of which did not offer online cards at the time,” said Anne Kennedy, Library Consultant at the State Library of Ohio. “When everyone was scrambling to close their buildings, having IDC allowed our libraries to continue offering services to their patrons. The demand for ebooks and audiobooks has never been higher, and we are proud to have added close to 40,000 new users since March 20th. As of the end of July, the IDC users have checked out over 184,000 titles!” 

Readers are encouraged to sign up for a library card – or an Instant Digital Card at participating libraries through Libby – during National Library Card Sign-up Month in September. Book lovers can also join OverDrive for a day of reading in honour of National Read an Ebook Day on September 18. 

The Libby app is available from approximately 90 percent of public libraries in North America. Through Libby, users can borrow ebooks, audiobooks, comic books, magazines, cookbooks and more from their local library that are free to download with a valid library card.  

To begin borrowing thousands of ebooks and audiobooks from your local library, or to sign up for an Instant Digital Card (in participating libraries), download the Libby app from the App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit www.overdrive.com. 

Have you used OverDrive? Tell us in the comments below!

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