American Libraries has published an interview with Steve Potash, CEO, following up on the announcement of their acquisition by Rakuten. Potash reiterates that OverDrive is expecting faster access to content for libraries as a result of the relationship with Kobo. He comments that he expects that Rakuten’s emphasis on speed of delivery will mean continued ability to respond to library needs as they change.
Potash also comments that he does not expect any changes to the optional nature of the retail option in OverDrive – i.e. that libraries who want to offer it will continue to be able to opt-in and that those who do not want to will not be obligated.
His comments about Kindle are “business as usual on all fronts” – which could be interpreted to mean that Amazon continues to control this relationship and OverDrive cannot anticipate their behaviour.
On the topic of privacy and anonymity, he comments:
“OverDrive has always respected and adopted the policies and practices that libraries and schools have required. We have enabled reader choices. And in every case, including the one you mentioned [Kindle], it’s an opt‑in by the reader. If the reader wants to use a particular device or app, our job has been to ensure that they can do so if they elect to anonymously. We expect that those two tenets will allow us to continue, not to change, our track record of respecting patron and reader privacy.”
Note: OverDrive is currently working with ReadersFirst to further protect patron privacy when using library eBooks by exploring ways to use the library account as the patron identifier.
