CW MARS OVER 1M DIGITAL CHECKOUTS IN 2019
Top 25 public library consortium worldwide in total digital circulation
CW MARS achieved a record-breaking one million digital book checkouts in 2019, a milestone for this library consortium consisting of 149 member libraries, including Worcester Public Library and Springfield Public Library. 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. CW MARS 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).
"OverDrive demand and checkouts continue to grow,” said Jeanette Lundgren, Executive Director at CW MARS. “When we first offered our OverDrive collection in 2005, it took over nine years to reach our first million circulations. In 2018 we had over 1 million check-outs in one calendar year and in 2019 we reached one million checkouts in 9 months!” Betsy Perry, Director at Sutton Free Public Library, added “OverDrive delivers audiobooks and ebooks to patrons who want them - anytime and anywhere!"
CW MARS 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 CW MARS 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 fantasy, romance and children/young adult.
The top 5 ebook titles borrowed through CW MARS' digital collection in 2019:
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
2. Educated by Tara Westover
3. Becoming by Michelle Obama
4. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The top 5 audiobook titles borrowed through CW MARS' digital collection in 2019:
1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
2. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
3. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
5. Educated by Tara Westover
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 central and western Massachusetts just need a valid CW MARS library card to access digital books from CW MARS' OverDrive-powered digital collection. Readers can use any major device, including iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and Windows®. With Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®” devices and apps [US only]. 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://cwmars.overdrive.com/ or download the Libby app to get started and borrow ebooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere.
About CW MARS
CW MARS is a diverse multi-type library consortium made up of 149 member libraries located in Central and Western Massachusetts. CW MARS is the largest of nine library consortia in Massachusetts. Our membership is made up of academic, public, and special libraries of all sizes, from tiny towns with populations under 500 to large urban libraries with many branches. We were formed in 1984 to promote the sharing of resources between libraries.
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
Media Contact: Jeanette Lundgren, CW MARS, jlundgren@cwmars.org