OverDrive Announces 2008 Library Download Statistics and Milestones

CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwire - January 6, 2009) - OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), the leading global distributor of digital audiobooks, eBooks, and more to libraries, today announced that 2008 was another record-setting year for its library download service. Checkouts of OverDrive download audiobooks, eBooks, music and video exceeded 10 million items in 2008, and readers at more than 8,500 OverDrive network libraries worldwide made Stephenie Meyer's young adult novel "Twilight" the Most Downloaded audiobook and eBook of the year. The Most Downloaded digital book titles at OverDrive network libraries for the year were:

Most Downloaded Library Audiobooks (2008)*
1.   "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
2.   "The Appeal" by John Grisham
3.   "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer
4.   "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer
5.   "7th Heaven" by James Patterson
6.   "1st to Die" by James Patterson
7.   "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama
8.   "24 Hours" by Greg Iles
9.   "Blood Brothers" by Nora Roberts
10.  "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman

Most Downloaded Library eBooks (2008)*
1.   "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
2.   "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer
3.   "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer
4.   "Devil in Winter" by Lisa Kleypas
5.   "Because You're Mine" by Lisa Kleypas

In 2008, OverDrive's industry-leading download service saw across-the-board growth in both content and usage. Key statistics and milestones for OverDrive-powered libraries include:

--  5,500 iPod®-, Mac®-, and iPhone™-compatible MP3 audiobooks made
    available to libraries for the first time
--  4.2 billion minutes of digital spoken word audio delivered in 2008
    (equivalent to 47 million audio CDs)
--  237 million website pages viewed by library patrons for download media
    (76 percent growth over 2007)
--  Patron sessions exceeded 30 million (63 percent growth over 2007)
--  Number of new users increased by 45 percent over 2007
--  Over 1.5 million new installs of OverDrive Media Console for Windows
    and Mac (bringing total to 3.5 million)
--  The OverDrive digital catalog grew to 150,000 titles with the addition
    of 50,000 eBooks, 10,000 audiobooks, and 5,000 music and video titles
    

Inspired by the surging popularity of download books from public libraries, OverDrive will be releasing monthly Most Downloaded lists summarizing top downloads from public libraries, schools, and colleges. To receive an email each month with the list of top eBooks and audiobooks, email toplibrarydownloads@overdrive.com.

"Millions of readers have discovered the newest library download options from OverDrive, including the addition of award-winning titles from Penguin Group, Random House, and Simon & Schuster," said Steve Potash, President and CEO of OverDrive. "Libraries are now better serving their mobile and connected customers. The strong growth in the usage proves that the service enhancements are working for patrons and providing excellent value to the community."

OverDrive is the only library download service that incorporates download audiobooks, eBooks, music, and video into a single platform and provides direct transfer to iPod, Zune, and virtually all MP3 players. OverDrive powers download services at more than 8,500 public libraries worldwide. To see if your library offers free downloads, visit http://search.overdrive.com.

*Most Downloaded titles are based on a formula that includes books checked out and/or on a waiting list at OverDrive-powered libraries.

About OverDrive

OverDrive is a leading full-service digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video. We deliver secure management, DRM protection, and download fulfillment services for hundreds of publishers and thousands of libraries, schools, and retailers serving millions of end users. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, OH. www.overdrive.com

Contact Information: Contact: David Burleigh OverDrive, Inc. 216-573-6886 x218