Who We Are

Empowering communities worldwide with digital content

Access for all

At our core, OverDrive is a mission-based company that believes all people should have equal access to explore new ideas and enrich their lives through digital content. We strive to serve all members of every community with resources that provide information, education, entertainment and advancement. Our apps, platforms and content collections support libraries and schools around the world.

The OverDrive family of brands

How we impact communities :

An annual report of OverDrive’s commitment and actions as a mission-based company.

View 2024 Report

The story of a B-Corp Certified business.

We work with more than 92,000 public libraries, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporations in 115 countries worldwide.

Explore our global network

Click to view

OverDrive’s History

Steve Potash founded OverDrive in 1986 with a mission to deliver content in new and innovative ways, evolving from digitizing law books to distributing ebooks on floppy diskettes. As the possibilities of the internet and digital books grew through the 1990s, we launched our content distribution service in 2000 and the first digital lending platform for libraries in 2003.

Through the years, we’ve established long-term, trusted relationships with publisher, library and school partners around the world. OverDrive now offers the largest digital content catalog in the world to more than 92,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries. Our highly rated apps inspire “a world enlightened by reading".

Hear from Founder & CEO Steve Potash about OverDrive's start and how we strive to fulfill our mission every day.

Industry Awards & Recognition

2021 President's "E" Award for Exports

2021 Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning

Consumer World Awards App of the Year 2020

Popular Mechanics Best Apps of 2010s

TIME Best Inventions 2019

2019 Academics' Choice Smart Media Award

2019 Best Apps for Teaching & Learning

2018 Best of Tech Awards

Best of 2017, Google Play

Best Customer Service, Charleston Advisor

Certified B Corporation

We are a Certified B Corporation

Learn more