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:
“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.
“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.
“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.
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