OverDrive is the world's leading digital content provider of books, movies, music, and more to the public and academic library space. The company basically powers the digital lending capabilities of more than 33,000 separate libraries around the world, as one of their huge innovations was the ability to borrow content through dedicated library apps to any mobile device. And … [Read more...] about OverDrive Acquired by Rakuten, Owners of Kobo
digital lending
New Report Predicts Significant Growth of Global Digital Newspaper Market
A new report on the digital newspaper publishing industry has predicted a steady increase in the global production of digital titles, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.52% worldwide by 2019. That may not seem like an impressive number in markets where 100% to even 300% growth is more typical, but there are a lot of factors that have to come into play … [Read more...] about New Report Predicts Significant Growth of Global Digital Newspaper Market
Playaway Unveils a Pre-Loaded, Controlled Tablet for Kids’ Circulation
Users who are familiar with the technology behind Playaways, the preloaded mini-MP3 players that contain individual audiobooks, may remember that the company has a strong history of providing conveniently packaged "safe" content for multi-user consumption. Whether it's the stand-alone audiobook players or the US Navy-specific NERDs (Naval E-Reader Device) that came loaded for … [Read more...] about Playaway Unveils a Pre-Loaded, Controlled Tablet for Kids’ Circulation
Boopsie Library-Branded Apps Increase Patron Engagement
When library patrons think of ebook lending, they might be familiar with the powers behind the books, with names like OverDrive or 3M distributing content to their local libraries. But with survey data from as recently as 2012 indicating that the majority of library patrons in the US didn't even know their public libraries could lend ebooks, despite the current numbers that 90% … [Read more...] about Boopsie Library-Branded Apps Increase Patron Engagement
Kindle FreeTime Just Got Better with Help from OverDrive
One of the more enticing features of Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet, at least for parents, was the option known as Kindle FreeTime. This parental control feature enables parents to set time limits on tablet use, as well as control what content their children can access within the tablet.Even better, the content is divided into educational or entertainment categories, and parents … [Read more...] about Kindle FreeTime Just Got Better with Help from OverDrive
OverDrive Catalog Adds Digital Texts from Pearson
One of the main frustrations with the digital textbook market is the lack of penetration in public schools at the elementary and secondary level. While the convenience and affordability of digital texts have been available in higher education institutions for some time, it is the tax funded public schools who are still waiting for the benefits that come from digital … [Read more...] about OverDrive Catalog Adds Digital Texts from Pearson
Libraries Fight Back Against Planned Closings
With libraries around the world coming under almost as much threat of demise as brick-and-mortar bookstores, one UK library system is taking legal action to fight back against proposed budget cuts in their county that will mean the planned closing of a number of local public libraries. According to an article in The Bookseller, the library system in Lincolnshire has mounted … [Read more...] about Libraries Fight Back Against Planned Closings
Slashed Budgets Mean Libraries Need Digital Lending More than Ever
Public libraries have been teetering on the brink of extinction for years, a fact that doesn't seem likely to improve in the near future given the economic situations that lead local governments to take aim at the libraries as a primary target. And despite data that shows 91% survey respondents believe libraries are vital to the overall health and growth of a community, they … [Read more...] about Slashed Budgets Mean Libraries Need Digital Lending More than Ever
3M Cloud Library Launches in Canada with New Features
eBook lending to public libraries just went international with the first country to benefit from the 3M Cloud Library System. Canadian patrons will now be able to borrow digital content through the provider, including titles from several of the Big Five publishers and hundreds of other publishers. "We know that libraries are looking for every possible way to help staff … [Read more...] about 3M Cloud Library Launches in Canada with New Features
OverDrive Offers Digital Kids’ Reading Rooms to Partner Libraries
Throughout the recent controversy over inappropriate and explicit content being listed in ebook retail websites alongside children's and middle grade titles, the same questions kept coming to the surface: how did this happen, and how do we prevent it? Unfortunately for the authors and publishers of much of the questionable content, the immediate solution was to block nearly all … [Read more...] about OverDrive Offers Digital Kids’ Reading Rooms to Partner Libraries
OverDrive Media Station Now Widely Available
Launched in fifty libraries at the beginning of this year as part of a pilot program, OverDrive's Media Station allows library patrons to employ the in-library ebook, audiobook, music and video sampling and checkout terminal. Today, the world's largest distributor of digital content to academic and public libraries announced the Media Stations are widely available to their … [Read more...] about OverDrive Media Station Now Widely Available
OverDrive Releases Update to School Digital Library Interface
OverDrive, one of the world's largest digital content and media suppliers to academic and public libraries, has rolled out a new update to its web interface that will make searching for content even more streamlined. The first enhancement helps ensure that users who access the interface via computer, tablet, or smartphone will see a very similar storefront, helping make … [Read more...] about OverDrive Releases Update to School Digital Library Interface
Gale Virtual Reference Library Model Bases eBook Purchase on Usage
eBook lending for libraries is still an issue for many reading consumers, and frustration on both sides of this issue still plagues both libraries and publishers. While libraries are concerned with meeting their budgets and offering relevant content in a way that keeps patrons looking to their libraries for material, publishers have to ensure that their authors are compensated … [Read more...] about Gale Virtual Reference Library Model Bases eBook Purchase on Usage
A Step Backward for UK eBook Lending
New concerns are growing among UK publishers over the fair compensation for their authors when it comes to library lending, specifically of ebooks. Unlike in the US where an author is only paid when a library purchases a particular title for lending from its catalog, under the UK law Public Lending Right, authors are compensated at each patron checkout, as well. But that might … [Read more...] about A Step Backward for UK eBook Lending