Is Library eBook Use Growing?

Our friends at The Digital Reader have responded to an OverDrive Press Release citing record library eBook and eAudiobook circulation in 2015, with the former up 19% over 2014 (to 125 million) and the latter up 36% (to 43 million).

The Digital Reader then throws cold water on OverDrive's numbers, suggesting "the stats represent OverDrive doing more business more than an increase in library ebook adoption among patrons."  EBook adoption, DR avers, "remains either low or disappointingly low," citing surveys from BISG and Pew.

Time for very scientific, definitive study to settle the question, "Is library eBook use growing?" To contribute to this monumental piece of scholarship and trend tracking, you need only respond with your library's use of eBooks in 2015 compared to 2014. Did use grow, remain flat, or even shrink? Let us know! Thanks for playing.

MIchael Blackwell, St Mary's County Library