Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Breaks Record – Checking Out 1 Million Digital Books in 2020

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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library announced today that it reached a record-breaking one million digital book checkouts in 2020. This accomplishment illustrates the continued growth and importance of library digital lending of e-books and audiobooks, especially in a year with building closures due to the global pandemic. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of 102 public library systems worldwide that surpassed one million checkouts (complete list here).

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has been providing readers 24/7 access to e-books and audiobooks for several years through OverDrive and its award-winning Libby reading app. Reader interest and usage has grown every year.

“The Library is committed to keeping our community engaged and educated by providing equitable and free access to both physical and digital materials,” said Caitlin Moen, Chief Customer Officer and Library Director at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. “We’re proud to be a part of the million digital downloads, and prouder that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community sees the value in their Library and uses our free resources to such a great extent.”

The highest-circulating title Charlotte Mecklenburg Library readers borrowed through OverDrive in 2020 was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. 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 e-book titles borrowed through Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s digital collection in 2020:
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
2. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
3. Educated by Tara Westover
4. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
5. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The top 5 audiobook titles borrowed through Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s digital collection in 2020:
1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
3. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
4. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Readers in Mecklenburg County just need a valid library card to access digital books from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s OverDrive-powered digital collection.

If you don’t have a library card, you can sign up for one here.

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