2021 may have stalled for some but for Libraries it meant kicking it into OverDrive

CLEVELAND, Jan. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 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," she added.

Probably to a surprise of nobody, none of the books that were listed as their Top Borrowed books of 2021 and none of the Top Genre Books were Indie or Small Press Published. In an email exchange Go Indie Now had with OverDrive they could not break down a percentage of Indie books lent. "We are unable to break down usage by demographics as OverDrive does not store any of that data. Library card usage is anonymous.

Breaking down the results by the type of author or publisher is also, unfortunately, not possible. We can segment some data by genre (as we did in the release) but not by specific types of publishers or authors," a spokesperson at OverDrive told Go Indie Now.

However they are very aware of the movements Indies have made to be more seen on social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Something Libraries themselves are already instituting by not only have featured sections like "As Seen on BookTok or BookTube" but also hosting reading groups specifically created by Booktube and BookTok. As COVID restricts attendance and proximities one of the riches and rewards of most libraries is the idea that this has been institution that has given anyone and everyone access while providing ample personal space to those seeking to just be left alone. While that's not a great advertising campaign it has been a principled unwritten rule for a very long time in the Public Library system. Still those challenges do exist but as people look to get out and about again, one place they can rely upon to allow them somewhere to be other than home is the public library.

Which begs the question how aware are Indies when it comes to OverDrive?

This has been an issue that actually OverDrive was well in front and aware of as far back as 2018. That is when the Library lending liaison service started an initiative called SELF e-select. That project was aimed toward diversifying the library landscape with more Own Voices Fiction within several popular genres and Non-Fiction. In 2019 OverDrive evolved that Project into The Indie Author Project. Which expanded that reach into more genres and with more books to be made available to wider audiences. This program also extended out of the United States and incorporated Canada as eligible to participate.

This program is still available to submit to and it also runs various contests throughout the year to help expand even more reach. TO learn more about the program itself you can visit The Indie Author Program Website.

OverDrive can be a valuable tool for Indie Authors and you haven't looked into it and checked it out, the OverDrive spokesperson told Go Indie Now, "Our catalog does include many independent authors and small-press publishers, and we’re grateful to them for offering their content digitally through libraries and schools."

This service also doesn't just benefit Indie Authors out there. In 2021 as highlighted in OverDrive's press release announcing this news a significant purchase also helped drive these numbers. 

• OverDrive acquired Kanopy, the industry's most-acclaimed video catalog serving public and academic libraries with an award-winning catalog of over 30,000 highly curated films.

Kanopy had been especially known to Champion Short Films, Short Subject Documentaries, and Full Length Documentaries. 3 categories that Indies have found footholds in and utilize to be seen and make the art they want to make.  

So as OverDrive, which will utilize the built in direction of Kanopy to add to its own reach, that means more films get put into the library system too. Something Go Indie Now sees as a positive net result for Indie Filmmakers, one that certainly didn't exist 2 years ago even. 

So the opportunities are there. OverDrive wants to welcome you to their services. So if you have never seriously checked it out, this may be the best time to do so?

You can find out more at OverDrive's website.