OverDrive is a digital distribution platform that provides public libraries, schools, and academic institutions with access to a vast catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming media. Its user-friendly applications enable patrons and students to access digital collections anytime, anywhere, while offering publishers a secure channel for content management and sales.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Libraries and schools face challenges in providing broad access to digital content, limiting their ability to serve patrons and students effectively. Publishers need a reliable platform to distribute and manage their digital catalogs, ensuring content security and revenue maximization.
Solution
OverDrive operates as a global digital distribution platform, offering a comprehensive catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming media to public libraries, K-12 schools, and academic institutions. Through its user-friendly applications like Libby and Sora, OverDrive facilitates anytime, anywhere access to digital collections, enhancing patron and student engagement. For publishers, OverDrive provides a secure ecosystem for content management, promotion, and sales, leveraging its extensive network to reach millions of readers worldwide. The platform supports various lending models and offers robust analytics to inform collection development and maximize content visibility.
Target Audience
OverDrive serves public libraries, K-12 schools, academic institutions, and publishers seeking to distribute and access digital content.
Features
- Global digital distribution platform for ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming media.
- User-facing applications including Libby (for public and academic libraries) and Sora (for K-12 schools).
- Extensive catalog of over 3 million titles from more than 30,000 publishers.
- Support for multiple lending models, including subscription, one-copy/one-user, and rental/circulation-based.
- Secure content management with Digital Rights Management (DRM) and metadata support for publishers.
- Publisher-specific portal (OverDrive Connect) for content onboarding, performance reporting, and business insights.
- Marketing and outreach resources for libraries and schools to promote their digital collections.
- Integration capabilities with library systems (e.g., SIP2, EZproxy) and Learning Management Systems (LMS) via APIs.
- Browser-based reading and listening options (OverDrive Read and Listen) for immediate access without downloads.
- "Libby Extras" feature providing access to additional content like streaming video (e.g., Kanopy) and databases.
- Public Library CONNECT program to link school and public library digital collections for K-12 students.
- Dedicated support and training resources for library and school staff.