OverDrive to digitally distribute Reader Rabbit®, Carmen Sandiego™ plus other Riverdeep educational software to its network of over 5,000 libraries

 

Cleveland, OH – June 12, 2007 – Library patrons will soon be downloading best-selling interactive games and software as a result of an agreement announced today between OverDrive, a leading digital media services vendor to libraries, and Riverdeep, the leading provider of interactive products focusing on education.

As a result of today’s announcement, libraries will be adding to their OverDrive digital collection such beloved educational software and game products including “Kid Pix®”, “The Oregon Trail®”, “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing®”, “Reader Rabbit®”, and “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?®” games. OverDrive will demonstrate how libraries can lend Riverdeep titles via download to their patrons in Booth #617 at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington D.C. from June 23 – 26, 2007.

Riverdeep, the parent company of software creators The Learning Company® and Broderbund®, provides a rich collection of award-winning educational games and software. This is the first time the company’s software will be available for online download through libraries. As with other download media from OverDrive, the Riverdeep titles will be available for checkout and download on patrons’ home PCs or laptops and are automatically returned when the checkout period is over. More than 5,000 libraries already offer OverDrive download audio books, eBooks, music and video, which are delivered in the same platform as the games.

“The interactive games and educational software available from Riverdeep are a perfect supplement to public libraries looking to engage their youngest patrons,” said Steve Potash, CEO of OverDrive. “The download process is as fast and easy as our other digital formats, and because they’re all on the same platform, browsing and organizing downloads is smooth and intuitive,” he added.

“Riverdeep is excited to bring our consumer educational software products to libraries across the nation,” said David Bass, Vice President of Consumer Business at Riverdeep. “Our self-guided programs make learning fun for children to develop their math, reading and comprehension skills.”

Founded in 1995, Riverdeep’s consumer education software products have been sold to more than 80 million customers worldwide and are used in a majority of the school systems in North America.  Over the course of the agreement with Riverdeep, OverDrive will add 200 titles to its more than 100,000 audio book, eBook, music and video titles already available through OverDrive’s Digital Library Reserve products and services. The agreement with Riverdeep enhances OverDrive’s interactive software and games collection for its library partners.

To see if your library is a member of OverDrive’s network, and to find titles of eBooks, audio books, music, and videos available from public libraries, go to www.overdrive.com/search. Games will be searchable through this site as they are added to the collection.

 

About OverDrive, Inc.

OverDrive is a leader in providing world-class infrastructure for downloading premium digital content.  We deliver secure management, protection and download services for hundreds of publishers and institutions (rights holders) and thousands of libraries, retailers and distributors serving millions of end users.  With a global catalog of premium digital titles – including current best sellers – of eBooks, audio books, music, video and (coming soon) games & interactive software presentable in a single platform, OverDrive offers the industry’s best selection as well as the option to manage, protect and download proprietary content.  Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, OH.  www.OverDrive.com

About Riverdeep

Riverdeep Inc., A Limited Liability Company, with offices in San Francisco, California, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dublin (Ireland) and Manchester (United Kingdom) is a leading publisher of interactive products focusing on education and personal productivity for the consumer and school markets.  Riverdeep’s rich portfolio of interactive award-winning products feature such well-known brands as the Destination Success® solution, which includes Destination Math® and Destination Reading®; The Print Shop®; Reader Rabbit® and Kid Pix®.  For more information, call toll free 888-242-6747 or visit www.riverdeep.net.

Contacts:

Amber Webb

OverDrive, Inc.

216-573-6886 x220

awebb@OverDrive.com

 

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