CW MARS NEWS

   CW MARS Announces Over TWO Million eBook and Audiobook Checkouts  in 2021. CW MARS continues to see increases in usage of electronic content. 2021 reached a record-breaking two million digital book checkouts. For CW MARS, this milestone illustrates the continued growth and importance of library digital lending of ebooks and audiobooks, especially after a prolonged period of building closures due to the global pandemic. CW MARS, a consortium consisting of 155 libraries in Central and Western Massachusetts, is one of 121 public library systems worldwide that surpassed one million checkouts (complete list here ). CW MARS member libraries have been providing readers 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks for several years through the award-winning Libby app , the library reading app created by OverDrive . Reader interest and usage has grown every year. Member libraries with the highest electronic circulation include Worcester Public Library, Shrewsbury Public Library, Jones Library in A

The top ten highest circulating books in CW MARS for 2021 (includes checkouts on physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, and videos) are: The Four Winds, The Midnight Library, Anxious People, The Vanishing Half, The Guest List, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, News of the World, Time for Mercy, Golden Girl, and The Last Thing He Told Me. 2021 saw a record breaking over 2 million  checkouts from our CW MARS OverDrive digital catalog ! For a more detailed top ten lists by format (physical v electronic), see the TOP TITLES IN 2021 : Top 10 Borrowed Titles (Physical Items) Top 10 Most Requested Titles (Physical Items) Top 10 Borrowed e-Books (OverDrive) Top 10 Borrowed e-Audio (OverDrive)