Libraries from five different countries reached the million checkout mark when it came to ebook loans. Half of all the libraries that joined the club had more than 2 million checkouts in 2019. Collectively, this group amassed a staggering 174 million checkouts. The Toronto Public Library system is the best in Canada and they have loaned out over six million titles and five locations in the United States recorded over five million loans.
According to the OverDrive report, the increase in ebook borrowing represents the “library’s role as a valued discovery channel” for publishers and authors. Nevertheless, the OverDrive report on digital lending comes in the wake of continuing concerns by publishers that digital borrowing may undermine book sales. These concerns have led to a continuing dispute between publishers and libraries over efforts by some publishers to restrict the ability of libraries to offer digital access to their titles.
According to the OverDrive data, the number of e-books borrowed rose 15% in the year to 211 million; digital audiobooks borrowed jumped 30%, to 114 million, and 59 million children’s/young adult checkouts took place, a gain of 27% over 2018.
The 2019 Million Checkout Club
6 million+
Toronto Public Library
5 million+
Los Angeles Public Library
Wisconsin Public Library Consortium
King County Library System
The Ohio Digital Library
New York Public Library
4 million+
Greater Phoenix Digital Library
Maryland’s Digital Library
National Library Board Singapore
Tennessee READS
3 million+
Digital Downloads Collaboration
Seattle Public Library
Multnomah County Library
Hennepin County Library
CLEVNET
2 million+
Ontario Library Service Consortium
Utah’s Online Library
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Mid-Continent Public Library
San Francisco Public Library
Harris County Public Library
North Carolina Digital Library
Calgary Public Library
LA County Library
Cuyahoga County Public Library
Auckland Libraries
Kentucky Libraries Unbound
Sno-Isle Libraries
Sacramento Public Library
Boston Public Library
Livebrary.com
Metropolitan Library System
San Diego County Library
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services
Denver Public Library
Fairfax County Public Library
1 million+
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Pikes Peak Library District
Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative
San Antonio Public Library
Oregon Digital Library Consortium
Minuteman Library Network
Indianapolis Public Library
Nashville Public Library
St. Louis County Library
Houston Area Digital Media Catalog
Bridges
Brooklyn Public Library
Digital Library of Illinois
Edmonton Public Library
Broward County Library
Austin Public Library
Orange County Library System
Salt Lake County Library Services
Ottawa Public Library
The Free Library of Philadelphia
Chicago Public Library
Washington County Cooperative Library Services
Washington Anytime Library
Pierce County Library System
CW MARS
Wake County Public Libraries
New Hampshire State Library
Lee County Library System
South Australia Public Library Services
British Columbia Libraries
Nassau Digital Doorway
Missouri Libraries 2Go
District of Columbia Public Library
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Arapahoe Library District
OK Virtual Library
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.