Rakuten OverDrive, a digital reading platform used by the King County Library System (KCLS), has released their 2019 digital circulation statistics. KCLS patrons checked out 5,678,572 digital titles in 2019—up nearly 17% from last year, making KCLS the No. 2 digital circulating library in the U.S. and No. 3 worldwide.
Public libraries around the world circulated a record level of digital content last year, providing patrons access to more than 326 million eBooks, audiobooks and digital magazines.
“We are pleased to see record-breaking digital readership in 2019, both among the residents of King County and readers nationwide,” said KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum. “OverDrive’s download data illustrates the ever-increasing need for digital content, and the important role libraries play in providing equitable access to information in all forms.”
KCLS’ Top Five Electronic Titles in 2019:
- “Becoming,” by Michelle Obama
- “Educated: a Memoir,” by Tara Westover
- “Where the Crawdads Sing,” by Delia Owens
- “Crazy Rich Asians: Crazy Rich Asians Series, Book 1,” by Kevin Kwan
- “Little Fires Everywhere,” by Celeste Ng
A valid KCLS library card or eCard gives patrons access to the System’s online collection, which includes streaming films, eBooks, online magazines, research databases, exam-preparation tools, online classes and more.
