Just as exciting as the news that any 80s hair band is going on the road, OverDrive announced this morning that its digital bookmobile is kicking off a North American tour tomorrow, with its first stops lining up on the West coast. This is the sixth year that the 18-wheeler sized virtual library will roll out to schools and public libraries, giving demos of what digital reading can do for library patrons of any age.
According to OverDrive’s press release, “The Digital Bookmobile is a high-tech update of the traditional bookmobile that has served communities for decades. The vehicle is equipped with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high-definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a Gadget Gallery featuring a variety of eReading devices. Interactive learning stations give readers the opportunity to search the host library’s digital collection, test out supported eReading devices, and sample eBooks, audiobooks, music and video.”
In its six-year tenure of raising awareness and understanding of digital lending, the bookmobile has welcomed over 100,000 visitors through the truck at over 400 stops along its travels. Notable events have included its kick-off in New York City’s Central Park and the Library of Congress’s National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Patrons who visit the traveling ebook library can sample content from OverDrive’s catalog of over one million titles, as well as streaming audio and video, audiobook downloads, and more.
For a full schedule of upcoming stops along the North American Book Tour, click HERE. OverDrive is a leading provider of digital content in various media to over 22,000 schools, libraries, and retailers. The recent addition of streaming content to schools has made OverDrive one of the most popular single-source suppliers of media for lending.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
