Orange County library announces record-breaking digital book checkouts

Orange County Library System broke a new record for digital book checkouts in 2020.

OCLS announced that the 1.7 million checkouts “illustrates the continued growth and importance of library digital lending of ebooks and audiobooks, especially in a year with building closures due to the global pandemic.” 

The library system joins 102 other public library systems worldwide that surpassed one million checkouts. It has provided readers 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks for several years through OverDrive and its Libby reading app.

“It’s such an honor to be part of this list once again,” said Mary Anne Hodel, library director and CEO of OCLS. “An educated community is an empowered community, and I can’t think of a better way for people to empower themselves than through reading. Thank you to the dedicated ebook and audiobook lovers in our community who helped us reach this milestone.”

OCLS added that the top circulating genre was romance. The catalog also includes thrillers, biographies and children/young adult.

Orange County readers can access the OneDrive-powered digital library with a valid library card. Compatible devices include Apple, Android, Chromebook and Kindle. Click here or download the Libby app to get started and borrow ebooks and audiobooks.