Today’s academic libraries are under pressure to deliver: growing demand for digital resources, tighter budgets, and a user base that expects instant access to the content they need. Big, one-size-fits-all subscriptions can lock you into paying for titles that get little or no use, while the books your students and faculty really might stay out of reach.

But building and maintaining a digital collection isn’t as simple as just “going digital.” Libraries must navigate complex licensing terms, recurring costs, platform fees, and unpredictable demand. Digital content often isn’t owned outright but licensed under publisher restrictions that may limit the number of checkouts or the length of time a title stays in your collection. Costs can spiral as demand grows, since digital editions are frequently more expensive than their print counterparts and must sometimes be repurchased when metered limits are reached. Add in the ongoing challenge of metadata management, format migration, and ensuring content remains discoverable and accessible across devices, and it’s clear that digital collection building is a moving target.

That’s where OverDrive comes in. By combining a robust platform with flexible lending options, OverDrive lets libraries design collections that truly respond to what students and faculty need without locking them into rigid subscriptions.

A Smarter Way to Build Your Collection

Flexible lending helps librarians save money and gives them the tools to plan strategically. OverDrive offers several models that make collections more responsive:

• One Copy/One Use (OC/OU): Own a title forever, with one reader at a time. Perfect for core texts, curriculum materials, and high-demand titles you’ll need year after year.
• Metered Access (MA): Best for titles with short-term or seasonal demand. Set a number of checkouts or a time-limited license, meeting peak needs without long-term commitment.
• OverDrive MAX/Metered Access Concurrent Users (MAX/MACU): Pay a premium to give up to 100 users concurrent access to the same title. Ideal for smaller courses, or assigned reading for groups/departments. 
• Simultaneous Use (SU): Give an entire class or campus access at once—no waitlists, no bottlenecks. Great for required readings or book clubs.
• Cost Per Circ (CPC): Open up a larger catalog with no upfront cost, paying only when a title is borrowed. This is ideal for experimenting with niche subjects or new areas of research.
• Class Sets: Allow a group to read the same digital title at the same time, with one dedicated copy available for each user during a specific lending period. Perfect for all-class reads and core curriculum assigned reading.

Why OverDrive Makes a Difference

The real value of OverDrive is in the tools that make collection management easier. Libraries can track usage, monitor costs, and make data-driven purchasing decisions to keep up with unpredictable demand. With millions of titles across countless subjects and formats, OverDrive helps fill gaps, support research diversity, and provide resources in more than 100 languages.

And with the Libby app, students and faculty can browse, borrow, and read on any device. The platform includes built-in accessibility features, helping close the digital divide and reducing the frustration of juggling multiple systems. When the technology just works, your community can focus on learning and research—not on navigating platforms.

Building for the Future

The future of academic libraries is flexible and user-first. By moving away from all-or-nothing subscriptions and embracing OverDrive’s adaptable lending options, you can create a collection that’s affordable, responsive, and built for the way students and faculty actually learn and research.