The majority of eBooks at Forsyth County Public Library are available through OverDrive. The mobile app for OverDrive is called Libby. eAudiobooks are available through both OverDrive and RBDigital. Almost all new eAudiobook purchases are now being made through OverDrive. OverDrive and RBDigital are both linked through the Forsyth County Public Library website or through the Libby or RBDigital apps on your favorite device.
eAudiobooks are very popular with Forsyth County Public Library patrons. Many eAudiobook listeners enjoy them while on a long commute, and others listen while they shop, watch a sporting practice, or on a walk through a public park. eBooks are popular as well, and have seen a large increase in usage during the COVID-19 outbreak. Many patrons like to use eBooks while traveling due to their device often being smaller, thinner, and more portable than a traditional print book.
As of May 2020, Forsyth County Public Library has a collection of more than 13,000 eAudiobooks through OverDrive and RBDigital, and a collection of more than 16,500 eBooks through OverDrive. Since July 1, 2019, Forsyth County Public Library has purchased 1,364 eAudiobooks in OverDrive and RBDigital, and 3,390 eBooks in OverDrive.
The demand for eMaterials can create wait times and holds lists, just as with print materials. Forsyth County Public Library works to lower these hold wait times as much as possible. One challenge with this, as compared with a print book, is the relative cost of an eBook. eBook, and eAudiobook, prices charged to public libraries are often much more expensive than prices for eMaterials and print materials charged to the public at large. eAudiobooks may be available to patrons through a private subscription service for a few dollars a month. However, one copy of a popular eAudiobook title as sold to public libraries can even be well over $100.00. The popular title by James Patterson, House of Kennedy, sells for $65.00 per copy. These prices can often make buying multiple copies of a particular title to reduce wait times challenging due to budget constraints.
Another challenge with eBooks and eAudiobooks is that eVendors often do not sell public libraries permanent copies of a title, but titles that are metered by time or usage. These titles have a limited access, such as two years from date of purchase, or are limited to 26 checkouts. After these limits, or meters, are reached, the particular copy of a title disappears from the library’s collection unless it is purchased again. The prevalence of metered copies is on the rise. Several years ago, Penguin/Random House set the prices on almost all of their eBooks to two years of access for $55.00 per copy. The price charged per title, and any meters associated with it, are set by the individual publishers of the particular books. An eBook that is priced for $9.99 is much easier for the library to buy copies of than one that is priced at $55.00.
Not all items are available in eBook or eAudiobook. Older items that are out of print may often be unavailable through eBook or eAudiobook. Some new releases from small publishers are also often unavailable in an electronic format. And due to licensing rights, some electronic versions of titles are only available through certain vendors. One reason Forsyth County Public Library has eAudiobooks through both OverDrive and RBDigital is to gain access to eAudiobook content that is exclusive to one of the respective platforms.
Patrons can request eBooks or eAudiobooks just as they can print materials. Please go to the Suggest an Item for Purchase link under the Reader’s Corner page on the Forsyth County Public Library website.
Jeff Fisher
Materials Services Manager
