Amazon has millions of original ebooks that indie authors submitted to their platform as part of Kindle Direct Publishing. The company also runs their own imprints such as Thomas & Mercer and have a different one for each major genre. Their Audible unit also has hundreds of original audiobooks that … [Read more...]
The Bibliotheca Cloud Library is on the rise
Bibliotheca is a company that targets the library market. They developed kiosks that allow patrons to bypass the staff and initiate self-checkout via the RFID and barcode scanners. This market is fairly competitive and they were looking for an edge. The 3M Cloud Library service was sold in 2015 to One Equity Partners, … [Read more...]
Penguin Random House is changing their terms for library ebooks
Penguin Random House is one of the largest publishers in the world and they are responsible for one quarter of all books released every year. They have been doing business with libraries for many years under the unlimited model, where libraries pay more for an ebook, but retain the rights to it forever. PRH is now … [Read more...]
Vancouver Public Library launches Fast Reads program for ebooks
The Vancouver Public library is doing something innovative when it comes to loaning out digital books to patrons. They have launched a Fast Reads program and ebooks cannot be placed on hold and are only available for seven-day loan periods, meaning they will be made available to other members sooner than traditional … [Read more...]
Will anyone read ebooks on Instagram?
Instagram is primarily a photo sharing app and it is owned by Facebook. It is a place where people augment the the pics they take on their smartphone with a myriad of customization options. The New York Public Library is taking a calculated gamble that people might want to read ebooks on Instagram too. The first … [Read more...]
Here is a breakdown of how much libraries pay for ebooks from publishers
Major publishers all have different strategies for selling ebooks to the public library system. Baker & Taylor, Overdrive and a myriad of others have to have enough of a selection to keep their patrons satisfied, but it can be challenging to know all of the different prices, terms and models that publishers employ, … [Read more...]
The First Harry Potter eBook will have unlimited loans from your local library
Harry Potter is celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the Sorcerer’s Stone. The title is being added at no cost to all of the libraries that currently do business with Overdrive and it will have an unlimited number of loans to local patrons from August 27th to September 10th 2018. A new generation of readers is … [Read more...]
Overdrive has doubled the amount of digital magazines on their platform
Overdrive unveiled a new digital magazine system in June and they launched with 50 titles. The company ironed out a deal with Magzter for their catalog, which seems to be working. Over twenty thousand magazine checkouts have been racked up in the past month and thousands more are occurring every day. In order to … [Read more...]
Overdrive audiobooks and ebooks will be available soon in Sweden
Overdrive has been selected by the Swedish library system to power their collections for the next four years. The Cleveland company managed to outbid the competition and sometime this year libraries will be able to offer their digital services to all of their patrons. Librarians in Sweden selected Overdrive because … [Read more...]
Do libraries have to worry if they do business with RB Digital?
Overdrive is the number one digital content distributor to libraries in Canada and the United States. They offer audiobooks, ebooks, music and video and everyone else is fighting for the scraps. Recorded Books specialized in audiobook content and in order to become a major player, they rebranded themselves as RB … [Read more...]
TOR is delaying front-list ebooks on Overdrive
TOR is one of the largest science fiction and fantasy publishers in the world and they have quietly implemented a new policy. They are now delaying submitting all front-list titles to Overdrive and will only make them available once they have been out for a minimum of four months. The publisher is hoping to maximize … [Read more...]
66 libraries on pace to loan out over 1 million ebooks in 2018
In 2017 there were 58 libraries in Canada and the United States that surpassed over one million checkouts and this year there are over 66 libraries that are on pace for one million checkouts and another 15 are closing in. The list of libraries on pace to join the Million Checkout Club in 2018 includes seven on pace … [Read more...]