The Cleveland Public Library, established in 1869, has entered into an agreement with digital media company OverDrive to open a circulating eBook and digital media collection. OverDrive launched its application and service for libraries back in November.

Patrons will be able to access and download for offline reading digital books and periodicals through either the library's online catalog or from a new kiosk style website. The Cleveland Public Library eBook Collection claims it will be the first of its kind to offer best selling titles for reading on nearly every type of PC, notebook, Tablet PC, Palm, Sony and Pocket PC PDA device.

"The new Cleveland Public Library digital book collection will be another example of our dedication to utilizing technology for "Access-Anytime-Anywhere," stated Andrew Venable, Jr., Director of Cleveland Public Library. "In addition to academic, research and business titles, our digital media collection will permit patrons from the comfort of their home or office to borrow eBook versions of the latest titles from best-selling authors such as Michael Crichton, Neil Gaiman, Tony Hillerman, Clive Barker, or Joyce Carol Oates. Our Digital Library Reserve will also be a first that enables our patrons to access digital magazines, periodicals, newspapers, as well as audio books and educational materials," Mr. Venable added.

The library also claims that first time services that will distinguish the Cleveland Public Library digital collection from earlier library eBook efforts include support for reading on Palm and Pocket PC PDA devices in addition to PCs, the ability for the library to add its own digitized titles to the collection such as local newspapers or archived documents, and support for circulating copyrighted digital audio books and other multimedia. Cleveland Public Library personnel will be able to develop their digital book collection from a variety of sources and a growing list of media file formats.

Scheduled to publicly launch during March of 2003, the Cleveland Public Library Digital Book service will be displayed by OverDrive with Adobe Systems at the upcoming 2003 American Library Association Midwinter Meeting from January 24th-27th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.