OverDrive Announces Streaming Video and Audio Services for Libraries and Schools

Washington Convention Center, Seattle—Jan. 22, 2013—Today OverDrive announced that it will enhance its industry-leading library service platform with streaming video and audio technology. The new services will improve ease of use and device compatibility for OverDrive-hosted video, audiobook and music collections at libraries and schools around the world. OverDrive will demonstrate its streaming technology this weekend (Jan. 25- 28) at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting at Seattle’s Washington State Convention Center, Booth 1115.

Scheduled for launch later this year, OverDrive’s streaming services are secure and will extend the reach of libraries’ digital collections thanks to virtually unlimited device compatibility. Users will enjoy quick and easy access to their library’s catalog of OverDrive-hosted video, audiobook and music on any device with a web browser and an Internet connection. The streaming technology will dramatically enhance discovery and access to libraries’ existing collections of WMV and WMA titles, pending publisher approval.

“Streaming video and audio technology is a key extension of our Next Generation platform,” said Karen Estrovich, OverDrive’s collection development manager. “With our browser-based eBook reading technology OverDrive Read, users simply ‘See Book—Read Book.’ Now, streaming technology will similarly empower library users to ‘See Video—Watch Video’ or ‘See Audiobook—Listen to Audiobook.”

OverDrive’s streaming services won’t require users to download apps or activate a device. This instant-access technology enables users to check out a video, audiobook or music title and immediately start watching or listening in any web browser. The streaming option will complement the download options already in use via the popular OverDrive Media Console apps for all major computers and devices.

Streaming services are part of OverDrive’s Next Generation platform, which includes completely reimagined library websites featuring One-Step Checkout™, a powerful search engine, and the browser-based eBook reading technology OverDrive Read. OverDrive will demonstrate its Next Generation enhancements—which also include APIs that enable libraries to fully integrate digital and print catalogs, and the all-new Content Reserve collection development portal—throughout the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting.