Thousands of Libraries Worldwide Participating in Pilot Program

 

Cleveland – May 16, 2013 – Today, more than 7,500 libraries around the world are participating in the Big Library Read, a two-week pilot program launched yesterday that enables millions of library patrons to simultaneously access and read a single eBook title until June 1, 2013. The selected title, The Four Corners of the Sky, by Michael Malone, is available in OverDrive Read, Kindle (U.S. only) and EPUB formats and can be read on virtually any device.

With support from OverDrive and Sourcebooks, Inc., a leading U.S. independent publisher, the Big Library Read will demonstrate the impact of library eBook lending on literacy and reading, as well as on book sales and author recognition. Participating libraries are featuring The Four Corners of the Sky on their home pages for no cost during the pilot period. Library patrons will need a valid library card to check out the title.

“We are thrilled to participate in OverDrive’s Big Library Read project,” said Sari Feldman, Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library Executive Director. “It is an exciting opportunity to engage readers all over the world in a global book discussion and highlight the critical role libraries play in the discovery process. It has long been accepted as conventional wisdom that libraries help drive the success of authors. Through projects like this, we can affirm that wisdom with hard data and reinforce what we already know – that libraries play a key role in marketing books and authors.”

“Public libraries have helped connect millions of readers with books and authors, and the Big Library Read pilot program is a great opportunity for participating libraries to reach new patrons and spread the joy of reading and literacy,” said David Burleigh, OverDrive Director of Marketing.

In addition to ongoing Facebook and Twitter (#BigLibraryRead) conversations during the pilot, Sourcebooks will host a live Facebook chat on May 23 with author Michael Malone. An Emmy Award-winning writer, Malone has received much acclaim for The Four Corners of Sky from The New Yorker, The Washington Post, People magazine and other notable publications.

Many of the largest library systems around the world are participating in the Big Library Read, including: Queens Library (NY), the U.S. Navy, Melbourne Library Service (Australia), Toronto Public Library (Canada), London Libraries Consortium (United Kingdom), and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (South Africa). The Big Library Read is the first event of its kind and may be replicated in the future to reach wider and more targeted audiences.

To find a participating library, visit search.overdrive.com.

 

About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading multichannel digital distributor of eBooks, digital audiobooks, music and video. We supply a secure lending platform for 22,000 libraries, schools and retailers worldwide with support for all major computers and devices, including iPhone®, iPad®, Nook®, Android™ phones and tablets, and Kindle® (U.S. only). OverDrive has been named to the EContent 100 as a company that matters most in the digital content industry and is a member of the 2012 Technology Fast 500. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland. www.overdrive.com

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

 

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