At the 2011 American Library Association Conference going on now in New Orleans, participants eagerly awaited the demonstrations on new launches of two key players in ebook lending, OverDrive and 3M Library Systems. Both companies were staged to introduce new technology in ebook library lending, and conference attendees were not disappointed.
While OverDrive has had a hand in library services for some time now, its news was the updates to its lending service. Up until now, lending libraries maintained a one book-one user format, in which an ebook was borrowed just like any other print book. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Patrons could sign up to borrow the ebook, but had to wait for it to be returned, just like other books. This model didn’t make much sense in a world of instant downloads, and OverDrive introduced its Always Available content at this event. Operating as OverDrive WIN, it has brought a select list of first ever DRM-free titles and multi-user books to library systems.
Meanwhile, 3M unveiled its new library service, complete with 3M e-reader devices that will be available for patron check-out, 3M apps, and the Discovery Terminal, a free-standing inside-library kiosk that lets patrons browse titles via a touch screen. This terminal boasts an ease of use that sets the bar higher than OverDrive ever could have hoped, a must for some library patrons.
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