Nassau Digital Doorway Records 1M Ebook, Audiobook Checkouts

From OverDrive:

January 24 2020

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The Nassau Library System today announced that the Nassau Digital Doorway achieved a record-breaking one million digital book checkouts in 2019, a milestone for this digital book consortium consisting of 52 Nassau public libraries. This accomplishment illustrates the continued growth and importance of library lending of ebooks and audiobooks along with the creative ways libraries have served their communities with digital services. The Nassau Library System is one of 73 systems around the world – including standalone libraries and consortia – that surpassed one million checkouts through Rakuten OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform and its award-winning app Libby (complete list here).

“We are thrilled at the success that Nassau Digital Doorway has found in the ten-plus years since it has been introduced to our reading public,” said Nicole Scherer, Assistant Director of Nassau Digital Doorway .”With this most recent milestone of a million checkouts in a single calendar year, the 43,000 Nassau residents who use the service regularly have proven that library access to ebooks is essential.”

Nassau Digital Doorway libraries have been providing readers 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks for several years. Reader interest and usage has grown every year, reflecting popular trends and interests both locally and across the country. In 2019, the highest-circulating title across both formats Nassau Digital Doorway readers borrowed through OverDrive was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The top-circulating genre, thrillers, represents the most popular in a vast catalog that also includes mystery, romance and children/young adult.

The top 5 ebook titles borrowed through Nassau Digital Doorway’s digital collection in 2019:

1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

2. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

3. Educated by Tara Westover

4. Becoming by Michelle Obama

5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The top 5 audiobook titles borrowed through Nassau Digital Doorway’s digital collection in 2019:

1. Becoming by Michelle Obama

2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

3. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

4. Educated by Tara Westover

5. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Named one of Popular Mechanics’ 20 Best Apps of the 2010s and one of PCMag’s Best Free Software of 2019, Libby seamlessly connects first-time users and experienced readers with the popular digital collections of libraries. Readers may browse the library’s digital collection, instantly borrow titles and start reading or listening for free with a valid library card.

Readers in Nassau County just need a valid library card to access digital books from Nassau Digital Doorway’s OverDrive-powered digital collection (Nassau County residents can look up their home library at join.nassaulibrary.org). Readers can use any major device, including iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and Windows®. All titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period and there are no late fees. Readers can also download titles onto Libby for offline use.

Visit https://nassau.overdrive.com/ or download the Libby app to get started and borrow ebooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere.

About Nassau Digital Doorway

The Nassau Library System, which administers the Nassau Digital Doorway consortium, is a cooperative library system comprised of the 54 independent public libraries in Nassau County, NY. Fifty-two member libraries participate in the Nassau Digital Doorway shared ebook platform. The Nassau Library System was created to foster quality public library service in Nassau County, enhance the resources and services available, effect economies in operations, provide training and continuing education opportunities, and to stimulate development of public library service to underserved populations.

About Rakuten OverDrive

OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. Named one of Popular Mechanics’ 20 Best Apps of the 2010s and one of PCMag’s Best Free Software of 2019, the award-winning Libby is the "one-tap reading app" for libraries. We are dedicated to “a world enlightened by reading” by delivering the industry’s largest catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital media to a growing network of 43,000 libraries and schools in 76 countries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten. www.overdrive.com

This press release was produced by the Overdrive. The views expressed here are the author’s own.