In 2022, digital book lending grew significantly due to innovations that high-performing public libraries, schools and other institutions used to serve their readers. These efforts resulted in record circulation of digital books, with ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and comic books each greatly contributing to year-over-year growth with OverDrive.
During the year, readers borrowed 555 million ebooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, comics and other digital titles, a 10 percent increase over 2021. This record circulation led to another milestone: Readers have checked out a total of 3 billion digital books from public libraries, schools and academic libraries in the OverDrive network since the first ebook checkout in 2003.
During the year, readers borrowed 555 million ebooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, comics and other digital titles, a 10 percent increase over 2021. This record circulation led to another milestone: Readers have checked out a total of 3 billion digital books from public libraries, schools and academic libraries in the OverDrive network since the first ebook checkout in 2003.
2022 digital book lending records from the OverDrive global network:
Top titles in New Zealand in 2022:
- Total digital checkouts from libraries and schools: 555 million (+10% over 2021)
- Libby app checkouts grew 30 percent, and millions more readers installed the app (+42%)
- Ebooks borrowed: 331 million (+4%)
- Audiobooks borrowed: 191 million (+17%)
- Magazines borrowed: 32 million (+38%)
- Comics and graphic novels: 33 million (+18%)
- Ebook and audiobook holds/wait listed: 214 million (+13%)
- Public library systems achieving more than 1 million digital book checkouts: 129 public library systems in seven countries (+7%)
- Top titles globally in 2022 (see list of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines)
Top titles in New Zealand in 2022:
- 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
- The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
New Zealand’s digital book lending amongst the highest
New Zealand libraries had more than 6 million checkouts in 2022, landing a spot among the top 5 countries in the world with the highest number of digital checkouts in the OverDrive network. In 2022, New Zealand libraries also participated in the first-ever Together We Read New Zealand countrywide book club, which featured local author Nikki Crutchley’s novel, To the Sea.
“It's not a surprise to me that New Zealand libraries are among the largest digital lending users in the world.” said Malcolm O’Brien, OverDrive’s Regional Manager for Australia and New Zealand. “That’s because they are continuously innovating and aiming to provide their patrons with a tremendous variety of titles and options, and the patron activity really reflects that effort.”
Libraries themselves were the biggest drivers for record growth in digital usage. In addition, OverDrive continued its advocacy work to provide fair, flexible and reasonable content access models. These included offering more subscription plans for simultaneous access for ebooks, audiobooks and “all-in” packages for comic books and graphic novels.
OverDrive grew its catalog with the addition of more than 1 million new digital titles and 73 new content partners. Plus, more than 4,000 magazines titles are available as part of the all-in package for public libraries, including New Scientist, The New Yorker, HELLO! magazine and more.
“Our goal is to get more books in the hands of people everywhere and I’m proud to see that our partnerships with libraries all over the world continue to help us achieve that goal,” said O’Brien.
Data was reported by OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries worldwide, and creator of the award-winning Libby and Sora reading apps.
New Zealand libraries had more than 6 million checkouts in 2022, landing a spot among the top 5 countries in the world with the highest number of digital checkouts in the OverDrive network. In 2022, New Zealand libraries also participated in the first-ever Together We Read New Zealand countrywide book club, which featured local author Nikki Crutchley’s novel, To the Sea.
“It's not a surprise to me that New Zealand libraries are among the largest digital lending users in the world.” said Malcolm O’Brien, OverDrive’s Regional Manager for Australia and New Zealand. “That’s because they are continuously innovating and aiming to provide their patrons with a tremendous variety of titles and options, and the patron activity really reflects that effort.”
Libraries themselves were the biggest drivers for record growth in digital usage. In addition, OverDrive continued its advocacy work to provide fair, flexible and reasonable content access models. These included offering more subscription plans for simultaneous access for ebooks, audiobooks and “all-in” packages for comic books and graphic novels.
OverDrive grew its catalog with the addition of more than 1 million new digital titles and 73 new content partners. Plus, more than 4,000 magazines titles are available as part of the all-in package for public libraries, including New Scientist, The New Yorker, HELLO! magazine and more.
“Our goal is to get more books in the hands of people everywhere and I’m proud to see that our partnerships with libraries all over the world continue to help us achieve that goal,” said O’Brien.
Data was reported by OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries worldwide, and creator of the award-winning Libby and Sora reading apps.
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