LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/06/13 -- The 2013 Digital Bookmobile North American Tour launches today at California's Ventura County Library. Sponsored by OverDrive -- the leading provider of eBook-lending platforms to schools and libraries -- the Digital Bookmobile is beginning its sixth year of raising awareness for digital collections from coast to coast. The 18-wheel traveling exhibit features hands-on displays and interactive workstations that show readers at schools and libraries how to take advantage of Next Generation features like OverDrive Read, the browser-based eBook reading technology.

School and library eBooks continue to surge in popularity, with OverDrive-powered digital libraries generating a record 70 million checkouts in 2012. Traveling to schools, reading festivals and public libraries throughout North America, the Digital Bookmobile enables readers of all ages to experience this growing trend. Following events at Ventura County Library today and tomorrow, the tour moves to San Bernardino Public Library, Huntington Beach Public Library and other libraries in the Los Angeles area before traveling to San Diego, Las Vegas and beyond.

Aboard the Digital Bookmobile, students and library patrons will learn how to borrow eBooks and audiobooks -- including J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and a million other popular and educational titles -- from local schools and libraries. OverDrive already serves more than two-thirds of public libraries in the United States. Now, as hundreds of K-12 schools launch digital collections with OverDrive, students are also reaping the benefits of the Next Generation eBook-lending platform. For a limited time, OverDrive is offering schools the chance to try its popular eBook service for free. (For more about the Free School Trial, click here.)

Upcoming Digital Bookmobile Events in Los Angeles County
Wednesday, Feb. 6 (12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Ventura County Library - E.P. Foster Library
651 E Main St
Ventura

Thursday, Feb. 7 (12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Ventura County Library - Ray D. Prueter Library
501 Park Ave.
Port Hueneme

Saturday, Feb. 9 (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
San Bernardino Public Library - Norman F. Feldheym Public Library
555 W 6th St.
San Bernardino

For more events in Los Angeles county -- and a schedule of Digital Bookmobile events throughout North America -- click here.

OverDrive hosted the first Digital Bookmobile event in New York City's Central Park in the summer of 2008. Since then, the traveling exhibit has made more than 400 stops, including 147 library and school visits in 2012. To date, more than 100,000 readers have passed through the truck, including more than 1,500 visitors per day at peak events such as the Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

The Digital Bookmobile is a high-tech update of the traditional bookmobile that has served communities for decades. The vehicle is equipped with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high-definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a Gadget Gallery featuring a variety of eReading devices. Interactive learning stations give readers the opportunity to search the host library's digital collection, test out supported eReading devices, and sample eBooks, audiobooks, music and video.

OverDrive offers a catalog of more than 1 million eBooks and audiobooks with support for all major computers and devices, including iPhone®, iPad®, Nook®, Android™ phones and tablets, and Kindle® (U.S. only). To find a school or library near you, visit search.overdrive.com.

About the Digital Bookmobile
The Digital Bookmobile, developed inside a 74-foot, 18-wheel tractor-trailer, is a high-tech update of the traditional bookmobile that has served communities for decades. The one-of-a-kind traveling exhibit creates an engaging experience with the host school or library's "virtual branch" website and collection of eBooks, audiobooks and more. The Digital Bookmobile is operated by OverDrive, which provides eBook-lending platforms for more than 22,000 libraries worldwide. www.digitalbookmobile.com

About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading multichannel digital distributor of eBooks, digital audiobooks, music and video. We supply a secure lending platform for 22,000 libraries, schools and retailers worldwide with support for all major computers and devices, including iPhone®, iPad®, Nook®, Android™ phones and tablets, and Kindle® (U.S. only). OverDrive has been named to the EContent 100 as a company that matters most in the digital content industry and is a member of the 2012 Technology Fast 500. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland. www.overdrive.com

For images and more information, visit http://digitalbookmobile.com/Media.aspx.

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