HOUSTON – January 13, 2022 – Harris County Public Library (HCPL) announced today that it reached a record-breaking four million digital book checkouts in 2021. This milestone illustrates the continued growth and importance of library digital lending of ebooks and audiobooks, especially after a prolonged period of building closures due to the global pandemic. HCPL is one of 121 public library systems worldwide that surpassed one million digital checkouts.
HCPL has been providing readers 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks for several years through the award-winning Libby app, the library reading app created by OverDrive. Reader interest and usage have grown every year.
"Reaching the four million digital checkout milestone is a momentous event that adds the perfect finishing touch to our library’s centennial celebration,” said Amber Seely, Collections and Technology Services Division Director at HCPL. “I believe the continued growth in our OverDrive circulation can be attributed to school partnerships and the desire of Harris County residents to access library materials and resources 24/7 from any connected device, anywhere. HCPL is overjoyed to be able to meet the needs of our patrons through OverDrive, Libby, and Sora."
The highest-circulating title HCPL readers borrowed in 2021 was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. The top-circulating genre, romance, represents the most popular in a vast catalog that also includes mystery, biography & autobiography, children/young adult, and more.
The top 5 ebook titles borrowed through Harris County Public Library’s digital collection in 2021: 1. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 2. The Guest List by Lucy Foley 3. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
4. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab 5. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
The top 5 audiobook titles borrowed through Harris County Public Library’s digital collection in 2021: 1. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 2. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 3. Atomic Habits by James Clear 4. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab 5. A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Readers in Harris County just need a valid library card to access digital books from HCPL’s OverDrive-powered digital collection. You can use any major device, including Apple(R), Android™, Chromebook™, and Kindle(R) (U.S. only). Download the Libby app or visit https://hcpl.overdrive.com/ to get started borrowing ebooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere.
