Tech hub Zhejiang Library becomes 7th in China to offer 24/7 access to digital books from OverDrive

Hangzhou, Zhejiang CHINA – March 15, 2018 – The Zhejiang Library, together with OverDrive, the world’s leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools, announced today the launch of its digital library collection with a large catalog of eBooks and audiobooks. Based in Hangzhou, a world-class technology hub and home to e-commerce giant Alibaba, this provincial library is the seventh library in China – including Capital Library in Beijing, Shanghai Library, and Shenzhen Library – to join OverDrive’s worldwide network of 40,000 libraries and schools.
Zhejiang Library’s opening collection of more than 2,000 eBooks and audiobooks in English is compatible with smartphones, tablets and computers. It includes popular and award-winning titles for adults and younger readers, and nonfiction resources covering subjects including business and cooking and food. One of the content highlights is the children’s Read-Alongs, illustrated eBooks synced with audio. New content is added to the site regularly. Visitors to the new site (https://zjlib.overdrivechina.cn/) can enjoy the user experience in English and Simplified Chinese.
“We are delighted to serve our dynamic communities with English digital books in addition to our large reserve of Chinese titles. Zhejiang is the birthplace of Alibaba and a hub for international trade. Our library is going to work closely with OverDrive to bring the world’s best digital books in business, management, education and more to our readers,” said Zhejiang Library Deputy Director Liu Xiaoqing.

“Zhejiang Library’s new digital collection is an outstanding extension of the library’s services, with convenient access to popular and relevant eBooks and audiobooks,” said OverDrive Founder & CEO Steve Potash.  “OverDrive has enabled public libraries all over the world to reach readers of all ages. Zhejiang Province is the center for digital publishing and reading in China and we are excited to work with the Zhejiang Library to serve their growing community.”

Zhejiang Library’s OverDrive-powered digital collection is available 24/7 and requires just a valid library card to borrow eBooks and audiobooks. The library has set a 21-day lending policy for eBooks and 14 for audiobooks. At the end of the lending period, the borrowed materials will be returned to the library automatically. The site utilizes a responsive, mobile-friendly interface, and is accessible through the website or OverDrive’s mobile apps.

For more information about the Zhejiang Library, visit http://www.zjlib.cn/. To find your library and begin borrowing eBooks and audiobooks, visit www.overdrive.com or install the Libby app (iOS, Android, Windows).

About the Zhejiang Library
Zhejiang Library is one of the earliest provincial libraries in China with headquarter in the Xihu District of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It is the first-tier public library and owns many precious ancient collections. It was first founded in 1900 as the Hangzhou Book Collection Mansion. In 1903, it was expanded to the Zhejiang Book Collection Mansion that was later merged with the Zhejiang Official Bookstore in 1909, which marked the establishment of Zhejiang Library. The first Zhejiang Library Council was founded in 2015, which established the management that the council is the highest-level decision maker and supervisor for the library. The vision of Zhejiang Library is to be the “Reading Landmark for Zhejiang and the Spiritual Home for the Mass”. http://www.zjlib.cn/

About OverDrive
OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. Libby is the highly rated “one-tap reading app” for libraries named one of Google Play’s Best Apps of 2017. We are dedicated to “a world enlightened by reading” by delivering the industry’s largest catalog of eBooks, audiobooks and other digital media to a growing network of 40,000 libraries and schools in 70 countries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. We became a Certified B Corporation in 2017.  www.overdrive.com