At last week’s Digital Book World conference, OverDrive CEO Steve Potash promised GoodeReader in an interview that the digital content solution company would be hosting a demonstration of new features at this week’s ALA Midwinter conference in Seattle. Today’s announcement of streaming video and audio for member schools and libraries makes OverDrive’s Next Generation platform an even more worthwhile offering.
“Streaming video and audio technology is a key extension of our Next Generation platform,” said Karen Estrovich, OverDrive’s collection development manager, in a press release today. “With our browser-based eBook reading technology OverDrive Read, users simply ‘See Book—Read Book.’ Now, streaming technology will similarly empower library users to ‘See Video—Watch Video’ or ‘See Audiobook—Listen to Audiobook.”
While the service won’t launch until later this year, libraries who are already looking ahead to adding to their visual catalog will be excited by the prospect of nearly limitless compatibility across devices, allowing patrons to have access on their personal devices to their libraries’ video, audiobook, and music catalogs through their partnerships with OverDrive.
ALA Midwinter will take place from January 25th through 28th, where OverDrive will be offering a closer look for librarians interested in offering the Next Generation platform to patrons.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
