Libraries Lend a Record 820 Million Digital Books in 2025

Reading is thriving in the digital age, and libraries are leading the way. According to figures released by OverDrive on 21 January 2026, public and school libraries around the world lent a record 820.5 million digital titles in 2025, an increase of nearly 11 percent over the previous year. The numbers paint a picture of a borrowing renaissance, with readers turning to their local libraries for ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, and more, all free with a library card.

The growth was broad and energetic. Audiobook borrowing climbed 13 percent to 315.9 million, while ebooks accounted for 379.4 million checkouts. Some of the steepest gains came in formats that broaden who reads and how: digital magazine borrowing jumped 31 percent to 125.1 million, and comics rose 22 percent to 55.7 million, formats that often welcome reluctant or younger readers into the habit of reading for pleasure.

“According to figures released by OverDrive on 21 January 2026, public and school libraries around the world lent a record 820.”

The milestone reflects libraries' deepening role as digital hubs for their communities. For the first time, more than 200 library systems, consortia, and school libraries each surpassed one million digital checkouts in a single year, with 18 of them crossing that threshold for the very first time in 2025. Streaming through the Kanopy service added nearly 30 million plays and over a billion minutes of viewing, extending the library's reach into film and documentary.

Popular titles spanned bestsellers and beloved series, with works such as Kristin Hannah's "The Women" topping ebook charts and Rebecca Yarros's "Onyx Storm" leading audiobooks, while Jeff Kinney ranked as the most-borrowed author across formats. Behind the statistics lies a simple, hopeful truth: when access to books is free and convenient, people read more. Libraries, often quietly, remain one of society's most democratic institutions, putting stories, knowledge, and imagination within reach of anyone, regardless of income, and the record-breaking year suggests that demand for that promise is only growing.