Last edited:
January 23, 2025 – Cleveland
In 2024, librarians and educators worldwide set impressive new benchmarks in digital lending and streaming, meeting the growing demand for ebooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, and streaming video. Using OverDrive’s Libby and Sora apps, as well as Kanopy for video, global library and school patrons borrowed and streamed at record levels.
Key Highlights
• Digital Lending Growth:
Readers borrowed over 739.5 million ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines, a 17% year-over-year (YoY) increase.
• Ebooks: 366.2 million (+7%)
• Audiobooks: 278.3 million (+19%)
• Magazines: 95.1 million (+70%)
• Comics: 44.8 million (+20%)
• Children’s and YA titles: 157.8 million (+14%)
• Streaming Records on Kanopy:
Kanopy achieved 27.8 million plays and surpassed 950 million minutes streamed (+18% YoY).
• Libby App Expansion:
More than 9.2 million people installed Libby in 2024, and 118.9 million new users joined library systems globally (+16% YoY).
Top Performers and Milestones
• Million Checkout Club:
192 library systems reached over 1 million digital checkouts, with 30 systems joining for the first time.
The Los Angeles Public Library led all library systems in digital checkouts.
• Global Top Digital Library Systems by Country:
• United States: Los Angeles Public Library
• Canada: Toronto Public Library
• United Kingdom: The Libraries Consortium
• Singapore: National Library Board Singapore
• Top 10 Library Systems by Circulation:
Libraries in cities like Los Angeles, Toronto, and Singapore dominated digital checkouts, highlighting the global appetite for digital resources.
• Popular Titles and Authors:
Top Digital Titles of 2024:
• The Women by Kristin Hannah
• Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
• None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Top Digital Authors of 2024:
• James Patterson
• Sarah J. Maas
• Colleen Hoover
Impact on Schools and Education
Schools also contributed significantly, with 56.2 million digital checkouts (+15% YoY). Platforms like the Sora app helped educators provide broader access to students globally.
Conclusion
The 2024 milestones illustrate the continued rise of digital libraries and streaming services, making ebooks, audiobooks, and videos more accessible than ever. Platforms like Libby and Kanopy are at the forefront, ensuring library services meet the evolving needs of readers and viewers worldwide.
Source: Libraries Break Digital Lending Records in 2024 with Over 739 million Checkouts - OverDrive
