E-book checkouts trending at Carnegie Library

Borrowers register 20% increase over 2018

Some readers vow never to swap paper for screens, but others are hopping onto the digital book bandwagon.

In 2019, Carnegie Library patrons checked out a record-breaking 1.9 million digital books — ebooks and audiobooks — through the Rakuten OverDrive digital reading platform.

Isabelle Toomey, a Carnegie Library children’s librarian, said she’s excited that Pittsburghers are checking out books, regardless of how they’re checking them out.

“As long as people are reading and enjoying themselves, we’re happy,” said Ms. Toomey, who works in the Downtown branch.

The biggest advantage that ebooks offer is access.

Whether on a plane, a beach, or traveling during the morning commute, readers can access a trove of digital books with nothing more than an Allegheny County Library Association card, said Hilary Lewis, coordinator of e-resources for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

“It’s about being able to get content whenever and wherever you are,” she said.

Digital book numbers are on the rise around the globe. Last year, Carnegie Library was one of 73 public library systems — the most ever — to surpass 1 million checkouts on the OverDrive platform. Toronto Public Library ranked highest with 6 million.

Digital books break down barriers to access, Ms. Lewis said. Older or visually impaired readers can enjoy books in larger font or via audio. Those unable to physically visit a library can check out digital content remotely. And overdue charges are a thing of the past, as ebooks return themselves on time, Ms. Toomey said.

Joyce MacCumbee, a senior aide at the Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale, said online reading platforms mean small libraries get to enjoy the same content as larger ones.

“[Swissvale is] a really little library, [but] our circulation with digital books is up there with the really big, rich libraries,” Ms. MacCumbee said.

In recent years, digital checkouts have increased around 20% at the Carnegie Library. In 2019, OverDrive registered 1,982,901 checkouts, up from 1,628,226 in 2018.

“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens was the library’s most checked out e-book last year, while “Becoming” by Michelle Obama was the top audiobook. Patrons checked out romance books more than any other genre.

These numbers only include checkouts on OverDrive, which has the biggest selection of e-books and audiobooks in the industry, according to the platform. Carnegie card holders can also access TV shows, movies, music and books through Hoopla, and e-magazines through Flipster, according to Ms. Lewis.

Of course, there also can be disadvantages.

Recent trends in publisher rules have made it harder for libraries to get their hands on new books quickly, making wait times longer for readers, Ms. Lewis said.

As of November, Macmillan Publishers limited public libraries to one e-book purchase for the first eight weeks after publication. The policy caused an uproar with the #eBooksForAll social media campaigns, spearheaded by the American

Library Association.

Ms. Lewis called the change “detrimental” to access.

Additionally, all of the “big five” publishers — Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster — have switched library lending models from “one copy, one user” to “metered access” in recent months.

That means libraries purchase a book for a certain amount of time or a certain number of checkouts, but must repurchase the book when the time or checkouts expire, according to Ms. Lewis.

Currently, digital checkouts make up 17% of total library checkouts, according to Ms. Lewis, but she said the growing interest hasn’t plateaued — new users are continuing to join the digital book platforms.

Despite the growth potential for e-books, Ms. Toomey and Ms. Lewis said, many digital users also read print books and listen to audiobooks.