For a few years OverDrive has offered services to help libraries develop and manage circulating collections of eBooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers, journals, audio books and other downloadable media for lending to patrons online.

A new solution from the digital media vendor brings audio-oriented digital media borrowing into the library.

OverDrive Media Kiosk Software enables Internet connected PCs to become self-service download stations for audiobooks and music. With the solution, users can download copy-protected audo titles directly to supported MP3/WMA players.

With OverDrive Media Kiosk-enabled PC, patrons can search the library catalog, locate a title, and then connect a player to the terminal using a USB port or cable to download and transfer audiobooks, educational materials, or music directly to portable devices that support Microsoft's WMA format.

OverDrive director of business development for Digital Library Reserve Claudia Weissman says, "Readers and listeners will be able to come into the library with MP3 players and walk out with best-selling unabridged audiobooks ready to enjoy."

So, for the first time, patrons will be able to borrow this content without Internet access at home.

"Anyone with a library card can bring their player to the library and use the free high-speed connection to download novels by Tom Clancy, Amy Tan, Nora Roberts, James Patterson and hundreds of award-winning authors and narrators," Weissman adds.

OverDrive has been working with Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio, to test the new download application. The Library has 28 branches serving 47 suburban communities and is one of the ten busiest library systems in the United States.