The Digital Bookmobile Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
By Lauren Bajda
Originally posted at https://digitalbookmobile.com
The Digital Bookmobile powered by OverDrive just celebrated its 10 year anniversary! We could not have reached this milestone without the support of our library and school partners across North America. From California to Maine, Texas to Canada, we are honored to spread reading happiness by providing the largest digital content catalog and the highest-rated apps to our partners.
The Digital Bookmobile is the brainchild of OverDrive CEO Steve Potash and it was launched on August 10, 2008 in Central Park, NY. The Digital Bookmobile helps public libraries and schools promote their digital collections in a fun, educational setting. With a library card, internet connection, and device, users are opened into a new world of reading.
In 10 years, we have:
- Hosted over 900 events
- Visited 48 states and 3 Canadian provinces
- Retired the original Digital Bookmobile in 2016
- Launched a new and improved Digital Bookmobile in 2017
- Shared countless memories with partners and visitors
It truly is the memories that we hold on to. I recall meeting a woman in Buena Park, CA last year who specifically visited the Digital Bookmobile to learn about audiobooks. She shared with me that she grew up with illiterate Native American parents and she had to teach herself to how to read. Now, she loves to read and helps children of all abilities in a school setting. We encouraged her to download audiobooks on Libby, the one-tap reading app, and she was soexcited because she said this will be the first time in her life she will ever be “read to”. I was taken aback by how powerful an audiobook was to her, and realized that reading goes deeper than words on a page.
In honor of 10 years on the road, we want to celebrate this milestone by sharing memories. Please join us in sharing your memories of the Digital Bookmobile, from 2008 to present.
Want to scroll through more photo memories, visit our album here.