Standard eBook format growing rapidly in library and retail markets

 

Cleveland, OH – February 10, 2009 – OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), the leading global distributor of digital books for libraries and retailers, announced today a growing list of leading publishers from around the world who are selling eBooks in the emerging EPUB format through OverDrive.  Publishers include Random House (US and UK), Hachette Book Group USA, Hachette Livre, Harlequin Mills and Boon, Pan MacMillan, Palgrave MacMillan, Penguin (US and UK), Simon and Schuster (UK), Bloomsbury, Pearson Education, Zondervan, HarperCollins (US and UK) and many more.

OverDrive provides digital distribution through its secure, web-based, wholesale distribution service, Content Reserve (www.overdrive.com/contentreserve).  OverDrive’s Content Reserve enables publishers to sell and deliver eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video to library, school and retail channels worldwide.  Operating continuously since 2000, OverDrive’s Content Reserve currently holds 150,000 titles and serves nearly 1000 publishers with direct links to 8,500 library, school and retail locations in 30 countries.

As an early proponent of EPUB, OverDrive has gained significant experience in the ingestion and distribution of EPUB eBooks.  As a result, OverDrive has identified leading service bureaus that provide a high level of technical proficiency in the conversion and workflow management of EPUB eBooks.  These firms can help publishers who need assistance with offering EPUB:

“eBooks are poised for accelerated growth with EPUB’s rapid adoption by publishers as well as its compatibility with mobile devices such as the Sony Reader,” said David Burleigh, director of marketing for OverDrive. “As a leader in this market, OverDrive is dedicated to fueling this growth by continuing our efforts to streamline distribution processes, integrate with service bureaus, and provide a seamless link to our growing network of library, school and retail channels around the world.”

EPUB eBooks are enhanced for mobile reading with reflowable text to fit any screen size. The standard format for eBooks and other digital publications was developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (www.idpf.org) and adopted by leading publishers and technology firms as the industry standard for eBooks. OverDrive, an IDPF member company, was an early proponent of the industry standard for eBooks and has developed streamlined systems for distribution of EPUB files in its retail and library channels.

OverDrive provides digital download distribution for Borders.com, eFollett.com, BooksonBoard.com, Waterstone’s (UK), Papyless (Japan), hundreds of college bookstores, and other online retailers.  OverDrive also powers download media catalogs at thousands of libraries worldwide, including institutions in New York, Singapore, Boston, and Toronto. To see if your public library is a member of the OverDrive network, visit http://search.overdrive.com. OverDrive also operates the Digital Bookmobile (www.digitalbookmobile.com), a high-tech 18-wheeler traveling coast-to-coast to raise awareness about free library downloads.

 

About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading full-service digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video. We deliver secure management, DRM protection, and download fulfillment services for hundreds of publishers and thousands of libraries, schools, and retailers serving millions of end users. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, OH. www.overdrive.com

Contact:
David Burleigh
OverDrive, Inc.
216-573-6886 x218
dburleigh@overdrive.com

 

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