OverDrive Acquires European Digital Library Service - Publishing Perspectives

OverDrive has Libby too.

Traveling around the Catosphere today, Panzer discovered news about OverDrive at the Publishing Perspectives site.

 

 OverDrive has acquired divibib GmbH which will allow the company's expansion in the European digital lending service. The post also contains links to other information.

 

 Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know the company already had a footprint there."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade to drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to OverDrive 

Marc DeBevoise Appointed OverDrive CEO - Press Release on Publishers Daily

OverDrive works with libraries.

With a little digging in the news section at the Publishers Daily site Panzer found a press release about OverDrive getting a new CEO.

 

Note: It's a very short post. You won't need to bring anything to snack on.

 

To read the press release tootle over to OverDrive 

OverDrive Sues OpenAI over Sora App - Publishers Weekly

Haven't they learned anything yet?

Today, Panzer found an interesting post on the Publishers Weekly site.  It looks like OpenAI is facing another lawsuit.

 

Jim Milliot's post gives an overview of OverDrive's lawsuit against OpenAI for the use of OverDrive's trademarked name of the Sora app.

 

Panzer says, "None of it surprises this little kitty. It's the way they do business."

 

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to snack on.

 

 To read the post tootle over to Overdrive sues Openai 

OverDrive: Record Number of Libraries Hit One Million Digital Lends in 2023 - Publishers Weekly

Did you miss me yesterday?

Yesterday, due to a windstorm we lost internet access. It's back today; so, Panzer made a little trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all in the posts, he found one about OverDrive and the libraries it serves.

 

According to Andrew Albanese's post, 152 libraries globally had one million or more digital lends to library patrons last year. The post includes a list of the top 10 lending libraries, a list of the top lending consortiums, and a list of the 25 first time on the one million lends list libraries. Also included is a link to all the million and more lends library list.

Panzer says, "Hmm. Maybe this little kitty should try to get his ebooks into the library systems."

Note: Because of the lists included in the post, this is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of hot cocoa to drink while you read today.

To read the post tootle over to OverDrive

Library e-book app Overdrive to shut down on May 1, readers directed to Libby instead - TechCrunch*

The plumbers are here.**

Today Panzer has news from the TechCrunch site. The OverDrive app is being shut down. Although it has other uses, most of us are familiar with it through our local libraries.

Sarah Perez's post includes links to information about OverDrive's shut down and information about OverDrive's replacement Libby.

 

 Panzer says, "Our library made the announcement too." 

To read the post tootle over to OverDrive

 

 

 

 *A tip of the kitty fedora to Nate Hoffelder's Morning Coffee - 3 April 2023 for the original link to this news.

 

** Yay! They say the water pipe will be replaced by this afternoon.

The Publisher Perspective: October 2021 (Getting Your Book Into Libraries With OverDrive) - Writers and Publishers Network

As Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere today, he discovered a site named Writers and Publishers Network (WPN). Digging in the posts, he found one about getting your ebooks into libraries.

 

According to the post by Jay Hartman, authors getting their ebooks into libraries is relatively easy. First, the library needs access to OverDrive. Second, the author needs online access to their local library. Third, the author needs to see if their book is already in the system and, if not, then request the library purchase it. The post includes instructions for the library request process.

 

I just need a few friends' help.

Panzer says, "Looks easy to this little kitty. Now, I just need to find all my brothers and sisters and cousins and nephews and nieces and aunts and uncles to get them to request my books Cats and Crime and Cat Wisdom for humans. Then, I'll be in every library in the world!" 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of hot cocoa and a scone for today's learning experience.

 

To read the post for the steps to follow tootle over to Libraries

OverDrive Education Acquires TeachingBooks.net - Publishers Weekly

 Today Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts, he found one about OverDrive Education.

 

According to the post, TeachingBooks.net has merged with OverDrive Education. Currently, 55,000 schools and libraries worldwide have access to 265,000 "curated materials" through TeachingBooks.net. The post quotes OverDrive officials who call it an acquisition, but the TeachingBooks.net founder calls it a merger. Included in the post is a link to OverDrive's home page, one to TeachingBooks.net's home page and one to OverDrive's Sora reading app home page.

Merger? Acquisition? Which is it?

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know there was an OverDrive Education platform."

 

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading news. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring a thermos of tea, four muffins and brownie.

 

To read the post tootle over to OverDrive Education

Knight Foundation Invests $5 Million in 'Library-Centered' Digital Platform - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our illustrious kitty found a post about the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). Panzer told you about the DPLA earlier in June when they signed an agreement to license Amazon Publishing books to libraries.

 

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, the Palace Platform Project received a $5 Million investment from the Knight Foundation. The Palace Platform Project is made up of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and Lyrasis. It was formed in June 2021. Plans are to have it fully functional by fall 2021. At that time libraries will be able to license ebooks and audio books from the Palace Platform Project.

I thought libraries used OverDrive.

 

Panzer says, "The DPLA is not the Internet Archive Open Library."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a glass of iced tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to library centered digital platform

To read Panzer's previous post about the DPLA tootle over to Amazon Publishing 

 

 

 

OverDrive to acquire Kanopy - Publishers Weekly

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all he found a post about OverDrive and Kanopy.

 

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, OverDrive is buying Kanopy. OverDrive is the major supplier of materials to libraries. Kanopy is a library service which makes documentary videos, movies and educational videos available to library patrons for free. There are links included in the post about OverDrive's previous acquisitions. There's no real information about what the acquisition will mean for the continuation of Kanopy.

Goodbye Kanopy?

 

Panzer says, "Mom watches educational videos on Kanopy. This little kitty wonders what will happen now."

 

Note: This is a short, short medium length post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Overdrive and Kanopy

KKR Completes OverDrive Purchase - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer decided it was time to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our illustrious kitty boy found one about the sale of Overdrive. Panzer told you about the pending sale in December of last year.

What will it mean for libraries and schools?

According to Jim Milliot's post, equity firm KKR's purchase of Overdrive has now completed. The proposed purchase was announced on Christmas Eve 2019. Many were surprised by the sale since owner Rakuten had only owned the company since 2015.  OverDrive provides libraries and schools with ebooks and audio books.

Panzer says, "Inquiring kitties want to know why KKR bought Overdrive."

Note: This is a short post. Bring a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Overdrive
 To read Panzer's previous post about the purchase tootle over to KKR and Overdrive

OverDrive's New Owners: What It Means - American Libraries Magazine

Panzer was cleaning the floor of the Panzermobile, when he found a post crumpled up under the carpet under the passenger seat. Smoothing out the post, our fastidious kitty found it was from the American Libraries Magazine site. Reading the post, he discovered it was about the sale of OverDrive. Pa whennzer told you about OverDrive's acquisition when it was first announced.

What do you think will happen?

According to Marshall Breeding, on Christmas Eve OverDrive announced the company was being acquired by investment firm KKR.  OverDrive provides ebooks to libraries. The acquisition will occur in the first quarter of 2020. Japanese firm Rakuten has owned OverDrive since 2015. The post contains different possible scenarios the acquisition would make possible in the ebooks and digital content to libraries market. An example would be the merger of KKR's RBmedia with OverDrive. RBmedia supplies audiobooks to libraries which would augment OverDrive's ebooks to library supply chain.

Panzer says, "It will be interesting to see what happens."

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a quart of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan read Panzer's previous post, bring another cup of tea and a muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Overdrive
To read Panzer's previous post about the OverDrive sale, tootle over to OverDrive sale

Equity Firm Agrees to Buy OverDrive - Publishers Weekly

That turkey sure was good.

After yesterday's big dinner Panzer was planning to spend today resting, but he was shaken awake by shouting coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our brave kitty followed all the noise to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all he found the post causing all the hullabaloo was about OverDrive's sale.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, it was announced on Christmas eve that OverDrive had been sold to equity firm KKR. OverDrive provides libraries with ebooks and audio books. This is the second sale of OverDrive in four years. Rakuten USA bought the company in 2015.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Christmas Eve? Inquiring kitties want to know if they thought nobody would notice."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to OverDrive sold

Macmillan Library Embargo Update - Various

This has been a tough day for Panzer. He had hardly settled into his little kitty bed, when he was shaken onto the floor by howling and yowling coming from the Catosphere. Jumping into the Panzermobile our traveling kitty boy followed all the hullabaloo to the Motherboard site first and then on to The Digital Reader site. Both sites take publisher Macmillan to task for the company's library embargo. Panzer has been telling you about this ongoing battle since it started.

According to Motherboard's Matthew Gault's post, Macmillan is using flawed logic and incorrect numbers to support its library embargo. Macmillan claims library readers are the cause of the company's book sale losses and, therefore, the embargo to not let libraries have copies of new ebooks until two months after publication is justified. The post points out libraries pay three or four times more for an ebook than a regular purchaser. Once the book has been checked out 52 times or "owned" by the library for two years, the library must buy another copy. The post contains extensive quotes from Overdrive's Steve Potash disputing Macmillan's claims.

The Digital Reader's Nate Hoffelder's post, addresses an increase in the number of libraries that will no longer purchase Macmillan ebooks.. The number of libraries and library systems has grown from one to four. More than one library is included in a library system. One of the participants, the King County Library System, has 50 libraries. The post contains links to other information about the libraries' efforts. There's also a link to a notice some libraries are using to tell patrons that Macmillan's new policy is why they can't get a book they want from the library.

I don't want to wash those shoes.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks Macmillan stepped in a big pile of stinky stuff."

Note: This will be a humongous read. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selections. If you plan to follow the links, bring another gallon of tea and another dozen muffins.

To read the post at Motherboard tootle over to Macmillan library embargo

To read the post at The Digital Reader tootle over to libraries boycotting Macmillan

Bibliotheca Calls Out Amazon for Meddling in the Library E-Book Market - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with a little digging in the posts our adventuresome kitty pilot found a post about Amazon's perceived influence on libraries.

Mom and I like libraries.

According to the Publishers Weekly post by Andrew Albanese, Bibliotheca SVP of Digital Products Tom Mercer is blaming Amazon for publisher Macmillan's recent embargo on libraries and other publishers' changes to library terms. Panzer told you about the embargo earlier this month. Tom Mercer says Amazon has access to the company's customers' library usage information and is giving that information to publishers and authors.  He believes Amazon collected the library usage information through vendors such as OverDrive. OverDrive offers online library patrons the ability to read their checked-out ebooks using the OverDrive Libby app or patrons can choose the Kindle app. He wants libraries to pressure OverDrive to stop allowing patrons to use the Kindle app. There are links in the post to a copy of Tom Mercer's letter to librarians and to other information about Amazon.

Panzer says, "This little kitty knows Mom uses the Libby app for library ebooks."

Note: This is a h-u-m-u-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a gallon of lemonade and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring another gallon of lemonade and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon

To read Panzer's earlier post about Macmillan's embargo tootle over to Macmillan

Macmillan publishes a work of fiction - Steve Potash of OverDrive

Today, Panzer decided to make a stop at OverDrive's Steve Potash's blog. OverDrive is the service which lets patrons check out ebooks from the library. The post our traveling kitty boy found is about publisher Macmillan's library embargo. Panzer told you about the library embargo a few days ago.

I don't think this will last very long.

According to founder and CEO of OverDrive Steve Potash, publisher Macmillan's recent statement of the company's reasons for placing an embargo on libraries is total fiction. In the embargo Macmillan won't allow libraries to loan the company's new ebooks until eight weeks after they've been published. In the post each of Macmillan's reasons for the embargo are discussed and shown to be unjustified.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks this embargo thingy is pretty silly even for humans."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a half a thermos of tea  and three muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan

To read Panzer's previous post about Macmillan tootle over to Macmillan library embargo

Draft2Digital, Baker & Taylor, and OverDrive - Indies Unlimited

Panzer is still helping Mom with her recuperating extended-family relative, so today's trip into the Catosphere was short. On a quick trip to the Indies Unlimited site our speedy kitty found a post about Draft2Digital.

I really need more sleep.

According to Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital has announced their partnership with Baker and Taylor's 360 Axis 360 ebook distribution to libraries. Authors who use Draft2Digital will now have two platforms for library distribution: OverDrive and Baker and Taylor. The post also includes information about differences between the two platforms and a brief history of a court case between the two. The link to the court case decision includes interesting information about Baker and Taylor. The post quotes extensively from information on The Digital Reader site.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't think he likes Baker and Taylor's business practices."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital Partners with bibliotheca - Indies Unlimited

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to stop in at the Indies Unlimited site. With a little digging around in the posts there, he found one about Draft2Digital and bibliotheca.

Exactly why are you changing the royalties?

According to the post by Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital (D2D) and bibliotheca have partnered. D2D already works with Overdrive to distribute their authors' ebooks to libraries. The partnership will allow D2D to offer a better checkout experience for readers. There's also a change to the royalties for library purchases authors will want to read. The post has information about opting into or out of the new programs. There are two links included in the post. One is for information about bibliotheca and the second is for information about D2D's new library pricing page.

Panzer says, "Why do humans have to make things so complicated?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and one and half muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring two extra muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

The statistics behind audiobooks' continued growth - Perspectives On Reading

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took him to the Perspectives On Reading site. There our traveling kitty found a post about audiobooks.

According to Perspective on Reading staff writer Adam Sockel, library audio book usage is up 46 percent. So far this year library users have checked out 220,000 audio books daily. The post includes several charts to show audio book listeners by age, listening habits, daily length of time listening, and more. Perspectives on Reading is a publication of library supplier OverDrive.

Yes, it's definitely time.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks it's time to do an audio book to get into the library market."

Note: Because of all the charts included this is a long-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins.

To read the post tootle over to audio books

Boldface now in OverDrive's Libby ebook app for library patrons: How to use it - TeleRead

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the TeleRead site. With a little digging our traveling kitty boy found a post about OverDrive's Libby app.

According to TeleRead site founder David Rothman, library ebook provider OverDrive has added the boldface fonts option to its Libby app. Library users will now be able to choose to read an ebook in boldface fonts. Boldface makes it easier for those with visual contrast impairments to read their library ebooks. The boldface feature is available in iOS and Android. The post includes a sample of the boldface font and instructions about how to turn on the boldface feature in your Libby app.

My ebooks are in the library.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks it's about time OverDrive added this feature."

Note: This is a long post. Bring half a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading feature.

To read the post tootle over to OverDrive's Libby app

Is Japan's Rakuten the second biggest player in the western ebook and audiobook market? - The New Publishing Standard

Panzer is still recovering from all of yesterday's publishing news reporting for you, so he only made a quick trip into the Catosphere today. Our speedy little kitty boy stopped in at The New Publishing Standard site. With just a little digging there he found a post about the Japanese company Rakuten.

Hmm ...Millions of library downloads.

According to Mark Williams, Rakuten is now the second largest dispenser of ebooks and audiobooks in Canada and the United States. Rakuten owns Canadian ebook publisher Kobo and United States library distributor OverDrive. Overdrive is a major supplier of ebooks and audiobooks to libraries for downloads by patrons. To illustrate this Mark Williams uses charts and data about the magnitude of reader ebook and audiobook downloads. The charts include numbers from not just sales downloads but downloads such as Kindle Unlimited as well. Included in the post are links to some of Mark Williams' previous posts about Rakuten and Overdrive.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... My ebooks are on OverDrive and Kobo."

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Rakuten