Contra Costa County Library Reaches Proud New Milestone

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Contra Costa County Library has reached a record-breaking one million digital book checkouts in 2020, according to OverDrive, a leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. It is one of only 102 public library systems worldwide that surpassed one million checkouts. (complete list here)

"This accomplishment illustrates the continued growth and importance of library digital lending of eBooks and audiobooks, especially in a year with building closures due to the global pandemic," library officials said in a news release.

Contra Costa County Library has been providing readers 24/7 access to eBooks and eAudiobooks for several years through OverDrive and its award-winning Libby reading app. Reader interest and usage has grown every year.

"We are thrilled to be celebrating this reading milestone with our patrons," said Alison McKee, Interim County Librarian at Contra Costa County Library. "We are eager to serve members of the community wherever they are, and in these unique and challenging times we are proud to be able to expand our digital collection to do just that."

The highest-circulating title Contra Costa County Library readers borrowed through OverDrive in 2020 was "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo. The top-circulating genre, thrillers, represents the most popular in a vast catalog that also includes biographies, romance and children/young adult.

The top 5 eBook titles borrowed through Contra Costa County Library’s digital collection in 2020:

1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

2. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

3. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

4. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

5. How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

The top 5 audiobook titles borrowed through Contra Costa County Library’s digital collection in 2020:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

2. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

3. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

4. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

5. Becoming by Michelle Obama

Readers just need a valid library card to access digital books from the Library’s OverDrive-powered digital collection. Readers can use any major device, including Apple(R), Android™, Chromebook™ and Kindle(R) (US only). Visit https://ccc.overdrive.com/ or download the Libby app to get started and borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks anytime, anywhere.