[Lswtalk] FW: OverDrive's Digital Library Blog (in this message: 2 new items)

[Loretta Gharst]

Please note 2nd message below about MP3 format for eaudiobooks
FYI,

Loretta Gharst
Division Head
Collection & Computing Services
Calcasieu Parish Public Library
301 W. Claude St.
Lake Charles, LA 70605
Ph 337 721-7150
Fax 337 475-8806
Cell 337 515-9724
www.calcasieulibrary.org<http://www.calcasieulibrary.org/>


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From: noreply+feedproxy at google.com [noreply+feedproxy at google.com] On Behalf Of OverDrive Blogs » Library [overdriveblogs at overdrive.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 4:02 AM
To: Loretta Gharst
Subject: OverDrive's Digital Library Blog (in this message: 2 new items)

OverDrive's Digital Library Blog (in this message: 2 new items)<http://blogs.overdrive.com>

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The readers have spoken: OverDrive is the best eBook app for libraries and schools<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OverdrivesDigitalLibraryBlog/~3/CEn7LK89nPA/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email>

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 02:10 PM PST

Readers know what they want in an eBook and audiobook app, and even more so, they like to talk about it. One great thing about app stores is that they allow smartphone and tablet users to provide feedback on the apps they download and assign a star rating to signify their satisfaction level. And guess what we found out? The OverDrive eBook and audiobook app is the highest-rated among its competition as rated in app stores by tens of thousands of users.

Based on data gathered January 22, 2014, the OverDrive app has rated highest in the Apple App Store among competitors, with the most recent release scoring 4.5 stars out of 5. Across all versions, the app received 37,110 reviews. For comparison, 3M Cloud Library is rated at 3.5 based on 1,595 reviews, while Baker & Taylor Axis Reader’s most recent release is rated 2 stars, with 16 reviews for all versions. Users are raving about the OverDrive app, with thousands of 5 star reviews such as: “I have always extolled the virtues of public libraries and now that I can carry the library with me on my iPad, I tell everyone I know about OverDrive.”

In addition to being rated top among eBooks, the OverDrive app is rated higher than its competition in audiobooks as well. OneClickdigital by Recorded Books is rated 2 stars based on 429 total reviews in the Apple App Store, and 2.7 stars with 396 reviews in Google Play. Baker & Taylor Axis 360 – Acoustik is rated 3 stars in Apple App Store with 16 reviews, and 2.5 stars in Google Play with 24 total reviews.

The OverDrive app was also named one of PC Magazine’s 100 Best Android Apps of 2013<http://ctt.marketwire.com/?release=1083907&id=3816403&type=1&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pcmag.com%2fslideshow_viewer%2f0%2c3253%2cl%3d287861%26a%3d287861%26po%3d51%2c00.asp> (listed in great company with Kindle, Dropbox, OfficeSuite Pro and other notable apps), and one of TechRadar’s Best Free Android Apps of 2014 (along with CNN, Pinterest, IMDB and Groupon, among others).

This shows only a few examples; check out the full press release here<http://www.overdrive.com/news/press-releases/readers-rate-overdrive-best-ebook-app-for-libraries-and-schools/> to learn more.






OverDrive announces plan for audiobooks to be solely available in MP3 format<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OverdrivesDigitalLibraryBlog/~3/EAom5g6MtU8/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email>

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 12:15 PM PST

At ALA Midwinter Meeting this weekend, OverDrive will be announcing to library partners that over the coming months, we will take steps to discontinue the sale of audiobooks in the WMA format. With the largest collection of audiobooks from leading publishers in MP3 format for schools and libraries, OverDrive will soon make this the only file format offered for OverDrive digital audiobooks.

This is in response to user preferences, widespread compatibility of MP3 across all listening devices and the fact that the vast majority of our extensive audiobook collection is already in MP3 format. This includes the audiobook collections from Hachette, Penguin Group, Random House (Books on Tape and Listening Library), HarperCollins, AudioGo, Blackstone, Tantor Media and dozens of others. Our publisher relations team is working closely with the very few remaining publishers who require WMA to seek permission to sell their titles in MP3 for library and school lending.

We will soon be communicating the discontinuance of WMA sales, and then at a future date, we will announce when MP3 files will be the only supported format through OverDrive platforms. For libraries and schools that currently have WMA audiobook files in their collection, we will be working with the publishers of those titles to gain permissions to update your inventory to MP3. In the event that some titles are unavailable, an alternate solution will be offered to make up for the lost titles. Be on the lookout for announcements on our blog and from your Collection Development Specialist for a timeline of this process.

Sunsetting WMA formats will enable access to all audiobooks on any device through OverDrive’s highest-rated<http://www.overdrive.com/news/press-releases/readers-rate-overdrive-best-ebook-app-for-libraries-and-schools/>, most used app<http://overdrive.com/products/overdrive-media-console> for eBook and audiobook lending across all app stores. This will allow you to reach more users through your OverDrive audiobook collection, and offer patrons or students more titles to choose from on their preferred device. Visit us in booth #1723 at ALA Midwinter Meeting for more information, and to see a variety of other enhanced features<http://blogs.overdrive.com/front-page-library-news/2014/01/21/overdrive-to-preview-enhanced-ebooks-at-ala-midwinter-meeting/> coming soon from OverDrive.





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