When you imagine your local library, you likely think of a quiet building filled with stacks upon stacks of literature. However, companies such as Overdrive are bringing the local library into the 21st century. The innovative Overdrive application, available on smart devices, essentially digitizes the library experience, allowing users to rent ebooks and audiobooks from their local library. In this exclusive interview, Overdrive Director of Brand Marketing & Communications David Burleigh discusses the growth of audiobooks, the ongoing need for libraries, and how his company excels in sustainability and inspiring readers.
Innovation & Tech Today: Is Overdrive helping local libraries stay relevant in the era of Amazon?
David Burleigh: I think libraries have always been a vital part of the community, and even that’s evolved over the years where they’re certainly known for providing access to books and now audiobooks. I know libraries are often the largest provider of DVD rentals for video. And so they’ve always been in the middle of the community because they provide vital services for career development.
They provide access to the internet, which as obvious as it seems to us and to many of your readers, there’s still a large percentage of the population that does not have access. So they play that role. They also provide access to maker spaces such as 3D printers, recording studios, and vital community programs for kids. It’s amazing that libraries have evolved in the way that they have.
We are, in fact, a sponsor of a program for the American Library Association called “Libraries Transform” as sort of a double entendre in terms of how they have transformed themselves but then all the services that they provide play a role in transforming the individual. We are very proud of the fact that we work very closely with libraries and schools around the world.
We’ve only been in the digital space, only worked with libraries and schools, and it really has become a vision of creating a world enlightened by reading. And so it became very obvious to us and a really a nice touchstone for us to focus on reading as the primary goal. And by working with libraries and schools, it has certainly helped us accomplish that. And that helps us really focus our efforts on supporting these obviously vital institutions in our communities.
I&T Today: How do you feel about the growth of audiobooks?
DB: The audiobooks really are the fastest growing format I think in large part because of Audible’s prominence and popularity. And the library has been an important source of audiobooks, which have been available on CDs for many, many years. A lot of people have known of the library, at least from the CD standpoint, as well as tapes way back when…
Because of its popularity, the publishers have figured out that it is worth the investment to create an audiobook not only for a best seller but also for other new titles, even the mid-list titles. The smaller publishers now have ways to produce their audiobooks. So it’s really a growing market.
I&T Today: Does sustainability play a role in the overall mission of Overdrive?
DB: We’re not killing trees to provide books. That’s certainly a value and a benefit and it’s all for just the nature of improving and providing more access to reading and literacy programs in general. So we support libraries, which are beloved community institutions in schools, and the way we provide services to them is by creating a world enlightened by reading, which is our vision.
