Cleveland Public Library First to Offer EPUB eBook Downloads

Cleveland Public Library as week became the first public library to offer eBook downloads in the industry standard EPUB format. Readers at both Cleveland Public Library and CLEVNET member libraries can check out and download EPUB eBooks from the library's download Web site. The EPUB files are optimized for the Sony Reader and can also be read on a PC or Mac with free Adobe Digital Editions software. More than 8,500 libraries powered by OverDrive will soon be able to offer eBooks in the EPUB format, along with more than 150,000 titles in audiobook, eBook, music, and video formats, many of which are compatible with both Mac and iPod.

Patron-defined lending periods will also be available for the first time. The new feature allows libraries to offer a variety of borrowing options, such as 7, 14, or 21 day lending periods. Fast readers can now select a shorter checkout time, allowing them to borrow more titles from their library. Patron-defined lending periods, EPUB eBooks, and other upcoming enhancements will be demonstrated at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting 2009 on Jan. 23-26.

EPUB is a reflowable, XML-based format for eBooks and other digital publications developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum and adopted by leading publishers and technology firms as the industry standard for eBooks. OverDrive, an IDPF member company, is the only library download service that supports EPUB and integrates the format into a single platform for delivering digital audiobooks, eBooks, music, and video to library customers.