Public ilbraries in Suffolk County set a record for checking out digital books in 2020, with 2.7 million transactions in 2020.
The books were checked on on Livebrary.com.
With many library buildings closed because of the Covid-19 epidemic, patrons tured to digital services. Livebrary, consisting of 56 libraries in Suffolk County, is one of 102 public library systems worldwide that surpassed one million checkouts (List here).
The libraries have been providing readers 24/7 access to eBooks and audiobooks for several years through OverDrive and its award-winning Libby reading app. Reader interest and usage has grown every year.
“This past year, though difficult, Suffolk libraries have demonstrated their commitment to readers wherever they may be through Livebrary’s eBook and audiobook collections providing much needed access to entertainment and learning opportunities,” said Kevin Verbesey, director of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System.
The highest-circulating title Livebrary readers borrowed through OverDrive in 2020 was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The top-circulating genre, romance, represents the most popular in a vast catalog that also includes thrillers, biographies and children/young adult.
The top 5 eBook titles borrowed through Livebrary’s digital collection in 2020:
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
2. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
3. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
4. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
5. Educated by Tara Westover
The top 5 audiobook titles borrowed through Livebrary’s digital collection in 2020:
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. Becoming by Michelle Obama
4. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
5. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Readers in Suffolk County need just a library card from member libraries to access digital books from Livebrary’s OverDrive-powered digital collection. Readers can use any major device, including Apple(R), Android™, Chromebook™ and Kindle(R) (US only). Visit https://livebrary.overdrive.com/ or download the Libby app to get started and borrow eBooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere.