When I left my job in higher ed, I was deeply conflicted. I wanted to continue working towards making people’s lives easier or better. I wanted the work that I did to have some tangible, positive effect. I wanted to feel a sense of purpose when I clocked in for the day. Basically, I wanted the moral satisfaction of working at a non-profit while still being able to bring home a sustainable paycheck.  

I had loved working with students at Baldwin Wallace, but once my grant-funded position in Career Services came to an end, I found myself at the same crossroads that many young professionals face – should I get a job that I enjoyed, or should I get a job that paid the bills? 

After a few years of working in different industries, I applied for and was offered a position at OverDrive on their marketing team. Though OverDrive is a for-profit organization, I was thrilled to be back in mission-driven work, supporting literacy and increasing access to books and educational materials around the world. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that we were not only committed to making positive change in spirit, but that OverDrive was a certified B Corp. 

Certified B Corporations are for-profit companies committed to using their business as a force for good. Organizations must meet high social and environmental impact standards, make a legal commitment to be accountable to workers, customers, and the planet – not just shareholders – and demonstrate transparency with the public. 

The theme for 2025’s B-Corp month is ‘Gen B’ – celebrating a new generation of thought leaders that are dedicated to creating a better future today. 

OverDrive As a Force for Good ™ 

Nearly eight years ago, OverDrive became a Certified B Corporation, joining a global movement of businesses committed to using their influence for positive change. This certification reflects our dedication to social and environmental responsibility, as well as our commitment to transparency and accountability. 

“At OverDrive, we believe that the business we conduct should be a force for good. As a Certified B Corporation, we are committed to driving positive social and environmental impact through our work with libraries, schools, and readers worldwide. Our mission is not only to expand access to knowledge through reading but to do so in a way that supports sustainability, equity, and community engagement. We are proud to celebrate B Corp Month and remain dedicated to making a meaningful difference every day.”  – Lori Franklin, OverDrive Chief Operating Officer 

As a B Corp, OverDrive is committed to empowering communities through literacy, fostering a workplace that supports work-life balance, and implementing sustainable business practices that help protect our environment for future generations. We are proud to stand by these values and continue our work as a force for good. 

Since 2021, over 5,200 volunteer hours have been used by members of Team OverDrive to support local organizations, including but not limited to: Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Girls Who Code, Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation, Children’s Hunger Aliance. Cleveland Animal Protective League, The Diversity Center of NEO, Smithsonian Transcription Center, Second Harvest Food Bank, and more. 

During one of our November volunteer projects, 48 OverDrive employees worked with Rise Against Hunger to package over 10,000 meals. “We don’t package meals unless we have organizations like [OverDrive] to partner with us,” says Joseph Kelly, Area Manager at Rise Against Hunger. “This meal event is 100% funded by OverDrive. Without organizations like OverDrive, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Thank you very, very much—you are helping to support the goal of ending world hunger.” 

Finding New Ways to Support Our Library Partners 

In addition to supporting our community through volunteering and sustainable practices, our team is continuously asking, “how can we do better”? 

Some of the ongoing initiatives to better support our library partners and patrons are: 

  • Campaigns to promote a title, event, or fundraiser on Libby’s home screen and increase engagement with library initiatives and services. 
  • Title-level / multiple CPC budgets in Marketplace to provide libraries and schools more flexibility and control over how they meet demand for popular titles. 
  • Reading goals in Sora to promote literacy and help students improve their reading ability over time. 
  • Recovery passkeys in Libby to help users back up their library cards, tags and reading history on their device, and to transfer that data to other supported devices. 
  • Video player improvements in Kanopy to make it easier for patrons to find available subtitle and audio tracks, providing a viewing experience tailored to each user’s needs. 
  • Ongoing focus on accessibility across our products. 

If you have any questions about these initiatives and how to implement them at your organization, contact your Account Manager.  

Join Us in Celebrating B Corp Month 

There are several ways to highlight your alignment with the values of Certified B Corporations, including sustainability, community engagement, and social responsibility. Here are some ideas: 

  • Partner with a local B Corp to present a workshop on sustainability, ethical business, or social impact. 
  • Share how your library supports sustainability (e.g., digital lending, green initiatives). 
  • Encourage patrons to support local B Corps by creating a “Shop B Corp” challenge. 
  • Host a reading challenge focused on books related to sustainability and ethical business. 
  • Feature eBooks and audiobooks from B Corp publishers through Libby. 

B Corp month is only one month out of the year where we specifically highlight the goals and achievements of OverDrive and other Certified B Corporations, but the initiatives continue throughout the year. Thank you for partnering with us to build a better future together today.