OverDrive, cBooks and Libraries

Libraries are The Source for eBooks

It has been proven in the last few years -- now more than ever --how important a library is to a community. Libraries have met the challenge of staying relevant in a technology-dependent society, and have embraced the most recent hot topic: eBooks and eBook readers. Names like 'Sony® Reader' and 'Barnes & Noble nook®' have become part of everyday library lingo. 

Over the last year, OverDrive eBook circulation (Adobe EPUB and PDF) has grown an astounding 170%, making it the second most downloaded format by OverDrive users; closely trailing audiobooks. To help keep the momentum going, OverDrive is here to help your library expand the exposure of eBooks through the following FREE programs:

Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg offers more than 15,000 public domain eBooks to your OverDrive collection at no cost to your library. Patrons can download the DRM-free EPUB eBooks without waitlists or authentication. The eBooks can be read in any EPUB-compatible software and transferred to EPUB-capable devices. Project Gutenberg eBooks don't expire or count against a patron's checkout limit, and soon you will be able to count the checkouts in your circulation stats. To see Project Gutenberg at Boston Public Library's Virtual Branch website, visit http://bpl.lib.overdrive.com.

The Project Gutenberg collection is currently available to library partners with OverDrive eBooks in the United States and the United Kingdom. 

 

Library eBook Accessibility Program (LEAP)
OverDrive's LEAP, provides accessible eBooks to qualified patrons. In partnership with Bookshare.org, OverDrive is providing print-disabled patrons access to 20 accessible eBooks every month for a full year at no cost to the library or the patron. More than 70,000 popular digital books, textbooks, newspapers, and magazines are available.

LEAP is currently available to library partners with OverDrive eBooks in the United States.
 (OverDrive Digital Dispatch,September 15, 2010)