Area readers have once again put Harris County Public Library among the top libraries worldwide for digital circulation according to Overdrive. HCPL patrons checked out more than 7 million ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, and digital magazines in 2023, putting the library at number five in the rankings, ahead of such metropolitan powerhouses as the New York and Chicago public libraries and outpacing all other Texas library systems by a wide margin.
Overdrive, commonly known as Libby after its popular app, provides digital content to more than 92,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries making it the largest provider of digital content to libraries worldwide.
Harris County Public Library was a relatively early adopter of digital collections at a time when their viability and the public's willingness to use them were still in question. However, what has made HCPL a consistent circulation leader is its commitment to building a collection that is both varied and attuned to the tastes and needs of its patrons. The strategy has certainly kept HCPL ahead of the curve. In 2016, it became the first library in Texas to pass one million checkouts in a calendar year, and it exceeded four million digital checkouts in 2021, making 2023's 7 million mark a 75% increase in two years.
While public and school libraries across the country, and especially in Texas, continue to face challenges to their ability to provide collections and resources that reflect the diverse values and needs of their communities, HCPL sees its unprecedented circulation statistics as a sign of widespread support. Amber Seely, HCPL's Collections & Technical Services Division Director, says "In a time when books are frequently being banned, I am so proud to be in Houston where Commissioners Court declared us a book sanctuary and the residents of Harris County are exercising their freedom to read in such great numbers."
