Overdrive is the most prominent digital distributor of audiobooks and ebooks to public libraries worldwide. They have just signed an agreement with Storytel, quickly becoming one of the best audiobook companies. They recently entered the North American market by purchasing audiobooks.com. This new agreement will offer access to an unparalleled and culturally diverse selection of tens of thousands of premium audiobooks in 20 languages. The collaboration enables all 92,000 libraries and schools in the OverDrive global network to make the catalogue available to millions of readers in their communities for discovery and enjoyment.
A portion of Storytel’s global catalogue, 25,000+ titles expertly produced by Storyside AB, Storytel Publishing NL, Storyside India and Kitab Sawti, will be available to libraries and schools in more than 20 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Marathi, Hindi and many more. Each audiobook is meticulously produced with local narrators, ensuring an authentic and immersive listening experience tailored to each unique culture and language.
Adding Storytel highlights OverDrive’s growth trend in providing access to high-quality content and enabling significant community engagement for libraries and schools. In 2023, libraries and schools outside North America continued double-digit circulation growth with corresponding sales growth experienced by publishers participating in these markets. Digital book spending was led by the ebook format with 51 percent of units purchased, and titles for the adult audience account for the highest percentage (77 percent) of spending by audience. Key growth markets for publishers include Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany and Japan.
Digital book genres are trending now with public libraries worldwide: Self-help, house & home and business & finance top the charts for 2024’s nonfiction trends. Fantasy, thrillers and romance thrive in fiction, with an emerging trend in gothic fiction. Teens are focused on magical realism and action-adventure. At the same time, Kids dive into legends, myths, & fables and social themes—ongoing demand for materials projects 2024 as another year for expanded sales growth.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
