(19 September 2018, Cleveland, Ohio and Singapore) Rakuten OverDrive, the world’s leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools, presented the 2018 Digital Innovation Award to the National Library Board Singapore (NLB) at a ceremony in Singapore last month. This award was presented to recognize the numerous innovative features and services NLB has developed and adapted to serve their nation’s readers.
NLB’s pioneering initiatives bring the discovery, access and benefits of digital books and reading to one of the most highly connected mobile communities in the world. As a result of these achievements, NLB holds the highest digital circulation in Asia and is one of the top 12 library systems in the world.
The 2018 Digital Innovation Award is based on the numerous technological advancements the NLB has accomplished over the last several years. For example, NLB offers the world’s first Digital Business Library to efficiently serve the needs of the broad and varied business community in Singapore for free. Providing 24/7 access to over 25,000 ebook and audiobook titles from the world’s foremost business authors, digital content is available for borrowing instantly on a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer with a valid library account.
NLB’s Chief Executive Officer, Elaine Ng, who accepted the award on behalf of her organization said, “NLB is pleased that our ebook collection is able to reach library patrons who want to access and read books on their smart devices. We are keen to keep developing creative ways to bring more ebooks to library patrons in Singapore.”
In addition, NLB’s public libraries are also the first in Asia to utilize patron-driven content acquisition. This innovation incorporates the power and flexibility of digital content to expand the size of the library’s catalogue and effectively serve the community. Moreover, digital book clubs with creative marketing effectively bring reading into public places, such as immersive book-themed decorated trains encouraging users to download library ebooks. Yishun Public Library, one of NLB’s public libraries, features a Digital Learning Zone, the world’s first dedicated public library learning space catering to digital age users.
“NLB has helped readers, patrons and libraries all over the world by developing forward-looking services and illustrating how libraries can service mobile readers,” said Steve Potash, CEO and founder of Rakuten OverDrive. “We’re proud that the library has introduced such essential digital innovation under the leadership of Elaine Ng.”
For more information about NLB, visit https://www.nlb.gov.sg/.
About Rakuten OverDrive and Libby:
OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. Named one of Google Play’s Best Apps of 2017, the award-winning Libby is the “one-tap reading app” for libraries. We are dedicated to “a world enlightened by reading” by delivering the industry’s largest catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital media to a growing network of 40,000 libraries and schools in 70 countries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten. www.overdrive.com
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