As the pandemic persisted in 2021, librarians and educators enabled readers worldwide to borrow 506 million eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines, a 16% increase over 2020. With a focus on equity of access to books for all, libraries achieved all-time records for circulation while lowering the average cost-per-title borrowed. 2021 also produced a banner year of book sales and earnings to the authors and publishers who supply digital books to libraries. Data was reported by OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for 76,000 libraries and schools in 94 countries worldwide.

“Public and school librarians delivered extraordinary results for readers and students this past year through curation to specific audiences and data-driven purchasing,” said Karen Estrovich, OverDrive Senior Manager for Public Library Content. “Top performing libraries utilized simultaneous access, cost-per-use and community reading programs to maximize access by increasing the number of available books in their collections. The success of library programs was aided by the Libby reading app’s custom local library guides, skip-the-line feature for high-demand titles and dramatic interest in diverse content including digital graphic novels and magazines.”

OTHER DATA FOR 2021 LIBRARY AND SCHOOL DIGITAL USAGE INCLUDE:

• Libby added new users at a record pace in 2021 and now accounts for 60% of how readers enjoyed ebooks, audiobooks and magazines borrowed from public, academic and corporate libraries.
• School circulation of digital books with the Sora student reading app grew by 65%.
• Public library digital collections enabled 4.7 million books to be borrowed by students for self-selected reading on the Sora app, an increase of 117%.
• 121 public library systems (+19%) in seven countries achieved 1 million or more digital book loans, while four school systems in two countries reached this milestone.

OverDrive has been serving Australian and New Zealand libraries since 2005, now with a dedicated local team of experts.

“Library staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to adapt their services to meet their communities changing needs, and we’re proud to have played a part in helping them provide so much of what borrowers want,” said Mal O’Brien, OverDrive Regional Manager for Australia and New Zealand. “People discovered their libraries’ digital collections for the first time during lockdown – and we’re seeing that their use of online services is continuing to grow even as library branches have been able to reopen.”

Want to boost circulation and attract new users to your digital collection? Contact O’Brien at mobrien@overdrive.com and visit Resources.OverDrive.com for marketing material, training videos, book recommendations and more.

Great progress has been made on the new tertiary grants scheme which will provide people working in, or new to the library and information sector, with funding towards the costs of a library and information tertiary qualification. The first funding round opens in early March 2022 with another funding round in October 2022. From 2023 the annual funding round will be held in October.
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A workshop to develop an evaluation framework for the funding resulted in the advisory group developing key outcomes to measure the success of the project. These outcomes will help guide the development of the selection criteria and applicant eligibility. The following eight outcomes were identified:

1. People increase their knowledge and skills in the library and information profession
2. People have increased/improved career and/or leadership opportunities
3. People are empowered to undertake further study and feel pride in gaining a qualification
4. Researchers are inspired to be responsive to the needs and interests of the sector
5. People have financial barriers to study reduced
6. Partnerships are developed and strengthened
7. People feel there is value in organisational membership and registration
8. People have increased awareness that librarianship is a profession.

 
The tertiary grants funding is open to all students seeking a library and information qualification. Funding priority will initially be targeted and based on the current demographic needs of the sector. These are the aging workforce and the need to enable the sector to better respond to the different communities they serve. Hence, priority for the March 2022 grant round will be for applicants who are:

• under 35 years
• Māori or Pasifika
• seeking a new LIS qualification.

 
Perpetual Guardian has been appointed as the funding agent to manage the grants process. This funding is due to a $1.5 million grant to a LIANZA and SLANZA partnership from the Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP).

Information will be provided in late February, through sector-wide emails, social media and on this website and Perpetual Guardian websites.