OverDrive, the popular e-book library app, has announced that it will be shutting down on May 1st. The app was a convenient way for users to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and other digital media from their local library, school or university. OverDrive first revealed its plans to sunset the service in 2021, and delisted it from app stores in February 2022.
The company’s decision to shut down OverDrive is aimed at moving the majority of its users to its newer app, Libby, which was introduced in 2017. Libby offers several features that aren’t available on OverDrive, including support for multiple library cards, a unified bookshelf for all your loans and holds, and Apple CarPlay support.
While OverDrive’s shutdown may cause some inconvenience to users who have yet to switch to Libby, it is not expected to have a major impact on those who have already made the transition. For Kindle users, most books found on Libby can be sent to their device, while Kobo users will experience “no effect on the library browsing, borrowing and reading experience” on their e-readers.
The move by OverDrive underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and providing users with the latest and most convenient technologies. It remains to be seen how users will respond to the shutdown and transition to Libby, but for those who have already made the switch, the transition is likely to be seamless.
