Given Libby was Google Play’s ‘Best New App of the Year’ in 2017 and won #1 Apple App Store rating for books and library in May of 2018, it should come as no surprise that the OverDrive app for digital library access is doing well.
In 2017 OverDrive clocked some 225 million ebook and audiobook downloads and is reporting that for the first six months of 2018,
patron use of OverDrive-powered libraries’ digital book catalogs has grown by 22% over the same period last year.
OverDrive’s Executive VP of Publisher Relations, Erica Lazzaro, noted,
Libby is generating tremendous interest in the local public library as readers discover new authors and series and try an eBook, digital magazine or audiobook for the first time … Libby introduces books and reading to millions of mobile users of all ages and all interests, which benefits authors, publishers, booksellers and readers.
It’s an important point, much overlooked in the indie publishing sector where digital libraries are seen by many as a sideshow, not least because digital library downloads are totally ignored by the go-to guru for ebook statistics, Data Guy, in his Author Earnings Reports.
Yet OverDrive recently clocked its one billionth download, and is likely to see well over a quarter billion downloads this year alone.
That number will be bolstered further by digital magazines, with OverDrive having this month signed up Magzter’s global digital magazine supply for the benefit of OverDrive customers.
