A children’s tale of clever rats and their pied piper has led Auckland Libraries across the line to reach a total of 4 million checkouts from their main eBooks platform, OverDrive. The milestone was reached this month with the checkout of Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents by author Terry Pratchett.
Auckland Libraries is now one of only eight libraries in the world to hit 4 million checkouts from OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform used by a network of 36,000 libraries and schools in 63 countries worldwide.
We join Toronto Public Library, New York Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, King County Library System, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Boston Public Library and National Library Board Singapore in their 4 million club.
OverDrive
OverDrive has been used by Auckland Libraries since 2007 and has been available for use across the Auckland region since 2010.
From November 2013, when Auckland Libraries started tracking their users, over 78,800 people have checked out at least one eBook from their OverDrive collection. The average number of eBooks borrowed per week continues to grow and hit 27,543 eBooks per week in November.
Catherine Leonard, Auckland Libraries Head of Content and Access, is delighted to see Aucklanders’ eBook borrowing grow and attributes this to Auckland Libraries’ innovative approach to their digital offering and making their eCollections easy to use.
“We’re proud to reach 4 million checkouts and this result reflects our focus on offering new and different ways of reading and to helping our users get online to make the most of our eCollections and databases.”
“eBooks and eAudiobooks are great for people with busy lives and who spend time commuting and travelling, but also for anyone who wants a fast and easy way to get hold of a good read from wherever they happen to be."
"With OverDrive you can carry a free library with you.”
Auckland Libraries' eCollections
Auckland Libraries has over 200,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks and 700 eMagazine titles in its digital collection, including latest releases, classics, children’s and teen material. There are also books in a range of languages.
And now it’s even easier to borrow eBooks as the maximum number that can be borrowed simultaneously has increased to 35.
Their free eCollections can be accessed on your reading device from anywhere with internet connection, especially useful if you're going away these summer holidays.
In addition to the OverDrive collection, Auckland Libraries also offers eCollections from BorrowBox, Wheelers, Ulverscroft, Ebscohost and RBDigital.
Check out the Auckland Libraries’ eCollections and set yourself up for some summer holiday reading!
