OverDrive is excited to announce the pilot launch of the WIN Catalog for the library channel, an integrated suite of new features designed to connect readers with books and authors. Designed with input from libraries and publishers, the WIN Catalog creates a win-win-win scenario for publishers, libraries and readers. Announced in 2011, we’re proud to say we’ve delivered the following features to provide unprecedented opportunities for publishers to maximize discovery of titles and build long-term relationships with readers.
‘Buy It Now’
More than 50 percent of library users go on to purchase books by an author they first discovered in the library. The library’s new ‘Buy It Now’ feature makes those purchases easy, allowing users to discover titles from their library’s digital collection and instantly link to online booksellers offering the title for sale. A portion of each sale is credited back to the referring library as an affiliate fee in the form of OverDrive content credit. The Buy It Now feature gives readers instant access to new content while supporting collection development at their local library. Participating booksellers in the US include Indiebound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BooksonBoard.com and Powell’s.
More than 75 US libraries currently offer this feature. It’s also in pilot at Hampshire County Council in the UK with plans for expansion to additional retailers and markets in the coming weeks.
To Participate: All OverDrive publisher partners with digital lending rights are automatically enrolled in the Buy It Now program. Patrons can purchase titles provided the title is available from one of the affiliated retail partners.
Discovery of mid- and backlist titles with option to ‘Recommend to Library’
We want to encourage readers to discover authors and books beyond their local library’s selection and, in turn, encourage libraries to expand the breadth of their digital collections. With OverDrive’s WIN catalog, users can select ‘Additional Titles’ to view full publisher catalogs from those participating in library lending, including midlist and backlist titles their local library may not have purchased. Users can then choose to sample an excerpt, ’Buy It Now’ or ‘Recommend to Library.’ Libraries are able to view a list of recommended titles and set up purchasing plans based on recommended titles.
To Participate: Titles from OverDrive publisher partners that permit sales to the library channel are automatically included in the ‘Additional Titles’ and ‘Recommend to Library’ features.
Book & Author Impressions
In addition to enabling discovery of hundreds of thousands of eBook and digital audiobook titles, the WIN Catalog will offer new opportunities for book and author impressions. As mentioned above, more than 50 percent of library users go on to purchase books by an author they first discovered in the library. That highly qualified audience will now be able to directly connect with books and authors through event pages, book trailers, author fan pages, Facebook pages and more.
To Participate: Book & Author Impressions are in closed pilot at this time. We will have more information and participation guidelines in the near future.
The WIN catalog is already live with select pilot library partners, including Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH), Rochester Public Library (MN), New York Public Library, Boston Public Library, Poudre River Public Library (CO) and Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. Additional libraries are expected to follow, shortly. In the meantime, readers at our pilot libraries will have the ability to connect with authors and books from OverDrive publisher partners like never before.