Overdrive has been owned by KKR since June 2020

Breeding, Marshall. OverDrive enables Discoverability of books and ebooks on the web. May 2022. Library Technology Newsletter. OverDrive has been a longstanding partner with Google to facilitate the discoverability of ebooks and audiobooks available from libraries. As the leading provider of digital collection materials to public libraries, its efforts have a large impact on the visibility of libraries on the web. Persons can borrow Ebooks and audiobooks from their library's OverDrive collection via Google search results. When searching for a book on Google, results will usually offer a knowledge panel presenting additional information about the title, along with action buttons for buying a copy or borrowing from a library. When available as an ebook or audiobook from a nearby library that offers the title, the Borrow action connects the user directly its page in the library's OverDrive collection.

Breeding, Marshall. OverDrive launches Patron Engagement Tools. March 2022. Library Technology Newsletter. OverDrive, a major provider of digital media services for libraries, has launched OverDrive Hub, a set of tools designed to provide new channels of communication with library patrons, along with additional analytics to measure use and engagement.

Breeding, Marshall. Overdrive Sale Has Closed. July 2020. Smart Libraries Newsletter. The February 2020 issue of Smart Library Newsletter featured the proposed transfer of ownership of OverDrive from Rakuten to investment firm KKR. This transaction, initiated in December 2019, closed in early June 2020.

Breeding, Marshall. OverDrive to Change Ownership. February 2020. Smart Libraries Newsletter. OverDrive, the largest commercial provider of e-books and other digital content to libraries, issued a Christmas Eve announcement of its pending change in ownership. The company's current owner Rakuten has entered into a definitive agreement to sell OverDrive to KKR, a major US-based investment firm. As digital lending continues its steady rise, this news sparks interest and raises questions for the library community.

Breeding, Marshall. Developments in E-book Lending Technologies. June 2013. Smart Libraries Newsletter. The support of e-book lending stands as one of the crucial technology issues for public libraries. The initial phase of library e-book lending was mostly based on acquiring titles from one or more e-book providers and then delivering users to platforms provided by those vendors for selection, check-out, and downloading titles to e-reading devices. Libraries naturally want to provide a similar service for e-books as they offer for their print collections. General expectations would include the ability to develop a collection shaped according to the interests and research needs of its community and for library patrons to borrow e-books without cost, for reasonable loan periods, and with protected privacy. Yet, fulfilling ideal expectations for library e-book lending services continues to face a number of obstacles. From a technology perspective, challenges lie in simplifying the way that patrons can select, check-out, and download items. On the business and legal front, only portions of the collective e-book universe are available to libraries to purchase for their lending programs, and in many cases higher costs per title apply and possibly limitations on lending terms. The developments seen in recent months reflect ongoing progress in each of these areas.

Breeding, Marshall. OverDrive Prepares to Release API for E-Book Lending Integration. May 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. Until now, OverDrive has delivered its service through its own hosted platform, taking advantage of the limited capabilities of established protocols such as SIP2, Remote Patron Authentication, to integrate its services into third-party applications. In response to the increasing demand for interoperability and integration, OverDrive has announced its plans to deliver a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) to allow the developers of other related products, typically integrated library systems, online catalogs, mobile app developers, or discovery interfaces, to incorporate OverDrive's e-book discovery, lending, and management functionality. These APIs will be available to libraries that partner with OverDrive and to approved third-party vendors.

Breeding, Marshall. OverDrive acquires Booki.sh. May 2012. Smart Libraries Newsletter. OverDrive announced in March 2012 that it had acquired the Australia-based company Booki.sh, a portfolio project of Inventive Labs, a small consulting and software development firm founded by Joseph Pearson and Virginia Murdoch. Following the acquisition of Booki.sh, the remaining consulting business will combine with Icelab, another Web consulting firm.

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March 4, 2026. Libby names the winners of the 2026 Libby Book awards. Libby, the leading library reading app, unveils the winners of the third annual Libby Book Awards, recognizing the best books, audiobooks and digital experiences of the year. Selected by expert librarians from across North America, this year's winners highlight standout works that captured the hearts of readers, featuring both debut authors and beloved names in the literary world.

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March 3, 2026. OverDrive names Marc DeBevoise President, expanding support for libraries and schools. As OverDrive moves into its next chapter, the company announced that Marc DeBevoise has been named President and appointed to the Board of Directors.  DeBevoise will guide OverDrive's continued investment in tools, partnerships, and product innovation that support educators, librarians, and learners.  DeBevoise has led teams that built widely used digital experiences at Brightcove, Paramount, and CBS Interactive

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February 4, 2026. Libby reveals finalists for the Third Annual Libby Book Awards. Libby, the renowned library reading app, has announced the finalists for the third annual Libby Book Awards, recognizing the best books of 2025 according to expert librarians. The awards celebrate literary excellence across 20 categories, representing a diverse range of genres. The finalists were nominated by a panel of librarians, and they will now select the winners from across North America.

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January 28, 2026. Libby and Kanopy 2025 survey reveals a new era of undergraduate learning: students move beyond traditional text in favor of multimodal, active Education. Libby and Kanopy recently released the results of its 2025 Higher Education Survey. The findings reveal a significant shift in student expectations, with nearly three-quarters of undergraduates identifying as visual or kinesthetic learners and 90% demanding course materials that reflect a diverse range of voices and experiences.

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January 21, 2026. Libraries Break Digital Lending Records in 2025 with Over 820 Million Checkouts and Over 1 Billion Minutes Streamed. In 2025, libraries around the world continued to prove their essential role in connecting communities with stories, information, and entertainment, breaking new digital lending records in the process. As the need for flexible, on-demand access to books and media continued to grow, libraries expanded their digital collections to meet readers where they are, delivering record usage across ebooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, and streaming video.Using the Libby and Sora apps, readers borrowed more than 820 million digital titles worldwide in 2025, marking a 10.9% year-over-year increase and reflecting sustained engagement across public libraries, schools, and institutions. At the same time, academic and public libraries offering streaming video through Kanopy reached new heights, with 29.9 million plays and over 1 billion minutes streamed, reinforcing libraries' expanding role in digital learning and entertainment.

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December 10, 2025. Follett Content and Sora Student Reading App announce landmark partnership. Follett Content, a leading children's and young adult book provider, and Sora, the award-winning student reading app by OverDrive, today announced a sales collaboration that unites two trusted leaders in PreK-12 reading and learning. The partnership will provide an improved experience for readers by delivering digital content to students via the Sora app.

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November 18, 2025. Discover The Village Beyond the Mist in the new Libby and Sora Reads Global Book Club. Book lovers everywhere are invited to take part in the first-ever Libby Reads and Sora Reads digital book clubs, celebrating the power of stories to connect readers around the world. From November 18–December 2, readers can borrow “The Village Beyond the Mist” by Sachiko Kashiwaba in ebook and audiobook formats through their local public library in the Libby app or through participating Sora school libraries, with no waitlists or holds.

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November 4, 2025. Libby expands global reach with PocketBook integration. OverDrive announced a new integration between Libby, the library reading app, and PocketBook, a global leader in e-reading innovation. This partnership will make it easier than ever for readers to enjoy ebooks and audiobooks borrowed from their local libraries directly on PocketBook devices. PocketBook users will now be able to log in with their library card, borrow titles through the PocketBook x Libby app, and seamlessly read or listen on their e-reader. Titles can also be sampled before borrowing. Ebooks can be downloaded for offline reading within the borrowing period. Other formats, including audiobooks, are streamed or accessed through the browser.

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October 27, 2025. Navigating transition: FAQs for Academic Libraries inquiring to move their holdings to Libby after Baker & Taylor's exit. With Baker & Taylor's recent announcement that they will cease operations by the end of 2025, academic libraries are looking for an immediate option to fill the void created by B&T's pending closure. Primarily needing to find a resource to host their digital collections as well as a supplier to meet their campus needs is paramount. Many institutions have already begun reaching out to OverDrive, seeking a reliable, long-term solution to serve their departments, faculty, and students.

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September 30, 2025. Libby and Read with Jenna team up to bring book club favorites to library cardholders. Libby, the library reading app, announced a new partnership with Read with Jenna, the popular book club founded by TODAY Show co-host Jenna Bush Hager. Beginning this September, readers will be able to easily read and listen to Jenna's monthly book club picks for free with their library card through Libby.

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View All OverDrive News Announcements

Jun 09, 2021 OverDrive to acquire video streaming service Kanopy
OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide, announced today that it is acquiring Kanopy, a leading video streaming service for public and academic libraries.

Jun 23, 2020 OverDrive to acquire RBdigital library buisiness from RBmedia
OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools, announced today that it is acquiring the assets of RBmedia's library business, including the RBdigital platform in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

May 09, 2020 KKR acquires of OverDrive
OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools, today announced the completion of its acquisition by KKR, a leading global investment firm. In December 2019, KKR announced that it had agreed to acquire OverDrive from Rakuten.

Mar 2015 OverDrive acquired by Rakuten
OverDrive, the leading eBook, audiobook and streaming video platform for libraries and schools, announced it entered into an agreement to be acquired by Rakuten Inc., one of the world’s largest Internet services companies. Insight Venture Partners has been the majority shareholder of OverDrive since 2010. OverDrive will operate as a subsidiary of Rakuten USA and will work closely with other Rakuten companies. Rakuten companies provide a variety of consumer and business-focused services including eReading (Kobo), e-commerce (Rakuten.com, formerly buy.com, and Ebates), instant messaging (Viber), and others in the US, Canada and around the world.

Mar 05, 2013 OverDrive acquires Australian eBook company Booki.sh
OverDrive announced it has acquired Australian eBook company Booki.sh. Booki.sh is the developer of a cloud-based platform for distributing, selling and reading popular eBooks from anywhere and on any device with a modern web browser. Booki.sh founders and principals Joseph Pearson, Virginia Murdoch and Peter Haasz will join OverDrive from their existing offices in Melbourne to expand the global distributor’s publishing, library and school initiatives.

Oct 18, 2010 Insight Venture Partners acquires majority ownership of OverDrive
OverDrive announced that Insight Venture Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on technology companies, has made a major investment in the company.

Nov 25, 2008 Kanopy founded by Olivia Humphrey

May 2003 OverDrive launches its service for library e-book lending
OverDrive launches its service for library e-book lending. Cleveland Public Library and King County Library System are early implementors.

2001 OverDrive launches Content Reserve digital marketplace

1986 OverDrive is founded by Steve Potash