OverDrive digital catalogs connect millions of readers with authors and titles

 

Dallas, TX – American Library Association Midwinter Conference – Jan. 19, 2012 – OverDrive, the leading global distributor of eBooks and audiobooks, will release 2011 year-end statistics from its global network of 18,000 libraries and schools in 21 countries at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference in Dallas, January 20-23 (Booth 845).  Due to the rapid expansion of device compatibility and consumer awareness, eBook discovery and online reader visits at libraries and schools worldwide experienced triple digit growth in 2011: OverDrive library website traffic more than doubled to 1.6 billion page views and visitor sessions also doubled to nearly 100 million.  At the conference, OverDrive will share statistics and user profile data as well as demonstrate new digital book discovery services to help libraries meet the exploding demand.

Key statistics for library eBooks, audiobooks and digital media from OverDrive-powered ‘Virtual Branch’ websites in 2011 include:

  • 6 billion book and title catalog pages viewed, up 130% from 2010
  • 5 million visitor sessions, up 107%
  • Mobile device use increased to 22% of all checkouts
  • 35 million digital titles checked out in 2011, with 17 million holds
  • The OverDrive catalog for libraries now includes 700,000 copyrighted eBook, audiobook, music, and video titles in 52 languages, including 300,000 titles added in 2011
  • In 2011 OverDrive Media Console (free eBook and audiobook apps) was installed by 5 million users (up 84%) bringing the total install base to 11 million
  • Readers used OverDrive eBooks on all desktop and major smartphone and e-reading platforms including Android, iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad®, Windows® Phone and BlackBerry®, as well as Kindle®, NOOK™, Sony® Reader and others.

At the ALA Midwinter Conference OverDrive will demonstrate new digital book discovery services to help libraries meet eBook demand.  These include a new OverDrive “All Digital” catalog feed that will provide library visitors immediate access to browse and sample entire publisher and author eBook and audiobook backlist and long tail collections regardless of whether the library has acquired units for lending.  For participating libraries, the service also features patron-driven acquisition options and “Buy it Now” links connecting readers with booksellers, which in turn pay the referring library affiliate fees for all referrals that result in a sale.

During 2011, the Digital Bookmobile (www.digitalbookmobile.com), a high-tech 18-wheeler traveling North America on behalf of public libraries to raise awareness about digital reading, visited nearly 100 libraries and schools.  Since the tour launched in 2008, the Digital Bookmobile has held 400 events and trained more than 87,500 users on digital downloads from the library. The Digital Bookmobile national tour will be on the road again this year, starting in the Los Angeles area in early February.

OverDrive provides digital distribution services for more than 18,000 libraries, schools and booksellers worldwide with support for Windows®, Mac®, iPod®, iPhone, iPad, Sony® Reader, NOOK™, Android™, BlackBerry® and Kindle®.  To find a participating library, visit http://search.overdrive.com.

 

About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading multichannel 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. OverDrive has been named to the EContent 100 as a company that matters most in the digital content industry. 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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