MAKTABA at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi enhances its list of approved digital platforms by adding ‘OverDrive’ - Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi

MAKTABA at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi enhances its list of approved digital platforms by adding ‘OverDrive’

04 Oct, 2020

As part of its efforts to accelerate the pace and positive impact of digitalisation, MAKTABA at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi has announced the addition of OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for public libraries, to its list of approved digital platforms. The list already includes Amazon, Cobo, I-book and Neel wa Furat.

Users of public libraries in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will be able to view the archives of the digital library and borrow ebooks and audiobooks to read or listen to, for free, without the need to connect to the Internet, using the Libby application that is available on Apple and Android devices, as well as Chromebooks. It is also possible to view or listen to ebooks using a desktop computer through an Internet browser. Access to the ebooks will automatically expire once the borrowing period ends, and as such the user will not be liable for any fines for their late return.

Speaking about this development, HE Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Executive Director of the Dar Al Kutub Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “OverDrive is the world’s largest digital reading platform for use by libraries and academic institutions, so it makes perfect sense for MAKTABA to bring it on board and it complements our existing infrastructure. Our libraries are a most precious resource, providing rich archives of books in print, audio or digital formats, accessible to all, and this new partnership with OverDrive serves to increase that accessibility, with users now able to access ebooks anytime and anywhere, through their handheld devices or computers.”

OverDrive was founded in 1986, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and provides a huge catalog of electronic and audiobooks, video clips and magazines, which subscribers can view and read through its digital platforms. The company’s network includes 50,000 libraries and schools in 78 countries around the world.