New Digital Resource Sharing Service Lets Libraries Add Free Download Media

Community Reserve enables sharing of locally produced digital video, audio books, eBooks and music

CLEVELAND, OH - June 5, 2007 - A new Web 2.0 program that allows public
libraries to publish and share for free digital video, audio books,
eBooks and music with other libraries was unveiled today. The first of
its kind, OverDrive Community Reserve, is a shared collection of
locally-produced digital content available to thousands of libraries
worldwide who are part of the OverDrive network. 

Libraries with permissions to digital book, audio or video content can
upload titles for download lending to their local patrons, and now can
also share the materials with library users worldwide. For example, the
Rochester (MN) Public Library received a grant to produce a video to
orient and educate Somali immigrants to the features and services of a
public library. Now the video has been added to Community Reserve and is
available for download as part of their local OverDrive catalog, and is
also available for free for lending by more than 5,000 libraries around
the world.

"Adding digital media from OverDrive's Community Reserve to our
collection was fast and easy, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to
offer more quality download titles for free," said Cynthia Orr,
Collection Development Manager for Cleveland Public Library.  To see how
the Cleveland Public Library is offering these titles please visit:
http://dlc.clevnet.org/Community

 

"Community Reserve is a great way to get our local institutions and the
public involved with the library," said Kim Edson, Head of Readers
Services at Rochester Public Library. "In addition to the Somali library
video, we sponsored a local youth film contest and posted the top three
student films on Community Reserve," she added.  These student videos
are now available for download by Rochester Public Library patrons at:
http://digital.rochesterpubliclibrary.org/Community.

 

Digital Media titles available now in the Community Reserve catalog
include:

            Videos:

-          106 "Expanded Books" videos featuring author interviews and
commentary on award-winning titles including "Phantom" by Terry
Goodkind, "The Planets" by Dava Sobel and "You: The Owner's Manual" by
Mehmet Oz and Michael F. Roizen.

-          "Ku soo dhawoow maktabadaada," submitted by Rochester Public
Library. Introduces Somali immigrants to the library.

-          "Student Voices: Teen Suicide," submitted by Denver Public
Library. Produced by MetroBeat TV, a cooperative presentation of Comcast
and the Denver Metro area Channel 8 stations which examines the serious
and disturbing issue of teen suicides.

eBooks:

-          "Clyde Arbuckle's History of San Jose," submitted by San Jose
Public Library.

-          "Federal Art in Cleveland 1933-1943," submitted by Cleveland
Public Library.

-          "Greetings from Tucson: A Postcard History of the Old
Pueblo," submitted by Pima County  Public Library (AZ).

 

OverDrive is working with metropolitan libraries to upload eBooks,
music, and video including author programs, self-help materials, and
music from local bands to be added to Community Reserve.  OverDrive,
through its web-based Digital Library Reserve platform, offers more than
100,000 download popular digital audio books, eBooks, music, video and
(coming soon) games & interactive software titles. To see if your
library is a member of OverDrive's network, and to find titles of audio
books, eBooks, music, and videos available from public libraries, go to
www.overdrive.com/search.

 

 

About OverDrive, Inc.

OverDrive is a leader in providing world-class infrastructure for
downloading premium digital content.  We deliver secure management,
protection and download services for hundreds of publishers and
institutions (rights holders) and thousands of libraries, retailers and
distributors serving millions of end users.  With a global catalog of
premium digital titles - including current best sellers - of eBooks,
audio books, music, video and (coming soon) games & interactive software
presentable in a single platform, OverDrive offers the industry's best
selection as well as the option to manage, protect and download
proprietary content.  Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland,
Ohio.  www.overdrive.com <http://www.overdrive.com/>

 

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About OverDrive

Download audio books, eBooks, music, video and interactive games on a
single platform.  Thousands of publishers, institutions, libraries,
schools and retailers rely on us to protect & download their content
with the best selection, best service and best user experience.  

 

NOW SHOWING: Download Video!  www.overdrive.com
<http://www.overdrive.com/>