OverDrive Announces Library eBook Leaders for 2012

[tubemonkey]

Here are some interesting stats on OverDrive usage for 2012

Today OverDrive released data highlighting the libraries and schools within its worldwide network achieving the greatest growth and exposure for their eBook and audiobook catalogs. During 2012, hundreds of millions of online visitors turned to their libraries’ OverDrive-powered eBook catalogs to browse, sample, and gather recommendations for what to read next. These readers generated over 2.7 billion page views at 22,000 libraries and schools across the OverDrive network.

Public libraries lending the most eBooks and other digital titles from OverDrive-powered catalogs:

1. King County Library System, Wash. (1.3 million checkouts)
2. New York Public Library (1.1 million checkouts)
3. Toronto Public Library (900,000 checkouts)
4. Seattle Public Library (850,000 checkouts)
5. Hennepin County Library, Minn. (750,000 checkouts)

Public libraries recording the fastest growth for their eBook-lending catalogs:

1. Moreton Bay Libraries (Australia) (464% growth)
2. Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative (370%)
3. Western Plains Library System (Okla.) (351%)
4. Up North Michigan Consortium (317%)
5. Northeast Texas Digital Consortium (300%)

[xendula]

I'd be interested in file type stats.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by xendula

I'd be interested in file type stats.

Come to think of it, so would I. I'd love to see who's winning the ePub v Kindle wars.

[5thWiggle]

Well, since Kindle Library books are only available in the US, you can safely say that the Toronto Public Library's 900,000 checkouts were 100% non-kindle.

[tubemonkey]

New Report Provides In-Depth Review of eBook Borrowing at Five U.S. Public Libraries

Matt Weaver, a Library Renewal board member (who also contributes to infoDOCKET), has written an interesting and discussion provoking report about ebook borrowing.

The report is titled, Struggling to Satisfy Demand and it’s more than worth a look. You can find the full text report along with a sidebar listing “key dates” in libraries and ebooks (2011-June 2012) on the Library Renewal web site.

In a nutshell, Weaver analyzes ebook borrowing statistics made available by five U.S. public libraries:

• Robbins Public Library (MA)
• Santa Monica Public Library (CA)
• Omaha Public Library (NE)
• Topeka Shawnee County Public Library (KS)
• Westlake Porter Public Library (OH)

Of note in that report is this table about Kindle checkouts.

Table 1: Kindle share of ebook checkouts – average of sample libraries (TSCPL is not included)

• Sep-11: 22.3%
• Dec-11: 54.8%
• Mar-12: 59.5%
• Jun-12: 57.5%

In September 2011, when the Kindle format was first supported by Overdrive, it accounted for an average 22.3% of ebook checkouts among the libraries that provided data for this category (Omaha, Robbins, Santa Monica, and WPPL). By December 2011, that share doubled to nearly 55%. In March, Kindle accounted for nearly 60% of ebook checkouts, falling slightly by end-June 2012, the end of the term covered in this analysis (Table 1).

[xendula]

Thanks, Monkey, the numbers are actually surprising, considering that some publishers have started cutting back on providing Kindle along with ePub?

Now to find out WMA vs MP3 - I did a quick serach and could not find anything.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by xendula

Thanks, Monkey, the numbers are actually surprising, considering that some publishers have started cutting back on providing Kindle along with ePub?

Now to find out WMA vs MP3 - I did a quick serach and could not find anything.

YW

I wasn't surprised. I always suspected Kindle would be the dominant format in public libraries.

As to audiobooks - WMA is the probable leader, because the majority of audiobooks in most libraries are in this format. Here are a few examples:

• US Navy General Library --- WMA= 25,656 ..... MP3= 14,927
• Seattle Public Library ------ WMA= 19,356 ..... MP3= 11,268
• ClevNet Library Coop ------ WMA= 15,859 ..... MP3= 8,416
• Calgary Public Library ------ WMA= 12,364 ..... MP3= 6,453

[xendula]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

YW

I wasn't surprised. I always suspected Kindle would be the dominant format in public libraries.

As to audiobooks - WMA is the probable leader, because the majority of audiobooks in most libraries are in this format. Here are a few examples:

• US Navy General Library --- WMA= 25,656 ..... MP3= 14,927
• Seattle Public Library ------ WMA= 19,356 ..... MP3= 11,268
• ClevNet Library Coop ------ WMA= 15,859 ..... MP3= 8,416
• Calgary Public Library ------ WMA= 12,364 ..... MP3= 6,453

Up until recently, I had no clue I wasn't seeing 2/3 of all audiobooks because I always browse from my iPad, which Overdrive decided means I should not be shown any WMAs, not even through search. I would guess I am not the only one browsing from a tablet or phone, so even though the percentage of WMAs is larger, I'd bet my first-born's soul that the ratio of WMAs to MP3s borrowed would not mirror the ratio of available WMAs to MP3s.

... Easy for me to say, since I don't have any children

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by xendula

Up until recently, I had no clue I wasn't seeing 2/3 of all audiobooks because I always browse from my iPad, which Overdrive decided means I should not be shown any WMAs, not even through search. I would guess I am not the only one browsing from a tablet or phone, so even though the percentage of WMAs is larger, I'd bet my first-born's soul that the ratio of WMAs to MP3s borrowed would not mirror the ratio of available WMAs to MP3s.

... Easy for me to say, since I don't have any children

I was talking to a guy I work with yesterday about browsers and he has an iPhone. He uses the Chrome browser and can "Request desktop site" from the menu. If you can get that on your iPad, you should be able to see all formats.

[xendula]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I was talking to a guy I work with yesterday about browsers and he has an iPhone. He uses the Chrome browser and can "Request desktop site" from the menu. If you can get that on your iPad, you should be able to see all formats.

I have alternative browsers, the thing is that I did not know that I was not seeing everything, so I did not know to use an alternative browser. It is no longer a problem for me, but what about all those other people who are equally ignorant of this fact?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by xendula

I have alternative browsers, the thing is that I did not know that I was not seeing everything, so I did not know to use an alternative browser. It is no longer a problem for me, but what about all those other people who are equally ignorant of this fact?

That begs the question - how many people borrow from the OverDrive app vs those who borrow from a computer? I prefer borrowing from my PC.

[hwlester]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

That begs the question - how many people borrow from the OverDrive app vs those who borrow from a computer? I prefer borrowing from my PC.

I often borrow from my mobile device then download from my PC later. This is especially true if I get a notification that a book I have on hold is available and I'm out if town or something where I won't make it to my PC before the hold expires.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by hwlester

I often borrow from my mobile device then download from my PC later. This is especially true if I get a notification that a book I have on hold is available and I'm out if town or something where I won't make it to my PC before the hold expires.

I borrow using the browser on my phone or tablet if I am not near my computer and get notified too. I have always had my browsers set to desktop user agent even on my phone because I do not like mobile sites. I haven't used the overdive app.