Pima County Public Library Saw 1M Digital Book Checkouts In 2020

TUCSON, AZ — When the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of Arizona, people searched for things to keep them occupied at home, and Pima County Public Library reaped the benefits.

The library announced Tuesday that it saw a record-breaking one million digital book checkouts in 2020. It was one of 102 public library systems in the world that surpassed the milestone last year, despite many buildings being closed to the public for months.

The library has been providing readers 24/7 access to ebooks and audiobooks for years through OverDrive and the app Libby. Readers in Pima County only need a valid library card to access the collection on any device. Reader interest and usage has grown every year, even before the pandemic.

"We're thrilled to mark this milestone,” Holly Schaffer, Community Relations Manager at Pima County Public Library, said in a statement. “It's wonderful to know that our customers are enjoying the digital materials we offer through OverDrive."

The top 5 ebook titles borrowed:

1. "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
2. "The Splendid and the Vile" by Erik Larson
3. "A Promised Land" by Barak Obama
4. "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens
5. "Olive, Again" by Elizabeth Strout

The top 5 audiobook titles borrowed:

1. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" by J.K. Rowling
2. "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
3. "Educated" by Tara Westover
4. "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens
5. "Redemption" by David Baldacci

Visit the library online or download the Libby app to get started borrowing books from the comfort of your home.