As students return to classes this semester at one of Europe’s leading research universities, they will be provided with a new kind of service from their university library.

At Erasmus University Rotterdam, alongside access to their academic collections, students will have access to a digital leisure reading library offering fiction and nonfiction ebooks and audiobook from OverDrive.

Digital leisure reading via the Libby app is already popular at many universities in the U.S. and the UK, with universities like Princeton, Yale, Imperial College London and Durham University all offering collections to their students. The service at Erasmus will be the first in the Netherlands. OverDrive’s large catalogue of trade and professional publisher titles combined with the Libby app, which promotes books to users, makes delivering this service possible.

Erasmus University Rotterdam takes its name from one of the most influential thinkers of the Northern European Renaissance, Erasmus of Rotterdam. The university’s leisure reading digital collection also provides students with the opportunity to think and to explore new ideas.

“With our literary program, we aim to address the sometimes stressful and overwhelming moments in student life by offering a space to dream, escape from studying and daily worries, and explore ideas that are relevant beyond academic life,” said Matthijs Holwerda, Head of Collection Management and Access at the Erasmus University. “We want to offer our students not only a place to study but also a place to relax.”

Erasmus University Library has several initiatives to promote student wellbeing. Their podcast, Bookmarks & Dog Ears, celebrates the love of reading and annual events like their book market, creative writing workshop and Reading Without Borders, featuring international authors, all encourage reading as a source for new ideas, wellness and collaboration.

Additionally, their library holds an extensive fiction collection of physical books, which perfectly complements the new digital collection of books on the Libby app, making reading for relaxation even more accessible for students and staff.

“With the Libby app, students have access to a wide range of ebooks and audiobooks on their favorite devices,” said Holwerda. “This not only enriches their reading experience but also contributes to their wellbeing. We are proud to be the first university in the Netherlands to offer this innovative service, which seamlessly connects to our existing collection.”

“Before you sleep, read something that is exquisite and worth remembering.”

This wise advice from Erasmus himself perfectly captures the essence of the university’s leisure reading initiative and with the Libby app  the experience is now even more accessible. See their collection in Libby here.