OverDrive to Donate Popular eBooks to 1,000 Elementary Schools

CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwired - November 03, 2016) - OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for schools and libraries, is empowering young readers with a new initiative that will make hundreds of popular eBooks available to children for free. As part of the company's 30th anniversary and to create "a world enlightened by reading," OverDrive is donating a collection of eBooks to up to 1,000 elementary schools. Teachers, administrators, librarians and other school officials can apply to receive the donation at their school through the end of the 2016-17 school year.

To promote reading, encourage digital learning and support literacy goals, OverDrive partnered with award-winning publishers including Lerner Publishing Group, Britannica Digital Learning, Open Road Integrated Media, Dawn Publications and ABDO. This donation consists of a premium collection of eBooks in a variety of subjects for young readers, including Read-Alongs, interactive titles that sync recorded narration with highlighted words as the narrator reads. These teacher-recommended eBooks include engaging titles such as A Promise is a Promise, The Mallory Series, Mr. Popper's Penguins and Noisy Bug Sing-Along. The eBooks, from the K-5 QuickStart reading program, can be opened instantly in the browser with no app or downloads required. Students can read the same eBook at the same time in class, at home and everywhere, both online and offline.

"OverDrive is constantly championing literacy and expanding opportunities for students to read in the classroom, library and at home," said Herb Miller, Director of Education at OverDrive. "The eBooks in this reading program enable students instant access to quality digital books, anytime and anywhere. It's the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of our commitment to reading."

The OverDrive eBook donation is open to Title 1-eligible pre-Kindergarten, elementary and middle schools serving students in pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade located in the United States and its territories. For more information and to apply for the donation, visit the QuickStart.webpage.

For more information about the OverDrive Education service for schools, please visit overdrive.com/schools.

About OverDrive Education - a division of OverDrive

OverDrive Education is the leading global reading platform for K-12, offering the industry's largest catalog of eBooks, audiobooks, streaming video and periodicals. As a 100% digital company serving 34,000 libraries and schools worldwide, OverDrive combines technology with content to support learning and reading in the classroom, library and home. With an easy-to-use central platform, students get the right titles at the right time, online or offline, on all major devices, including iOS®, Android™, Chromebook™ and Kindle® (U.S. only). Founded in 1986, OverDrive and OverDrive Education are based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and is owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten. For more information, visit www.overdrive.com/schools or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or our blog.