Multiple sources are reporting today on this newly released survey (PDF) on the buying habits of library e-book borrowers. The survey questioned over 75,000 e-book borrowers, and found that more than half of them buy books, too. It also found that dedicated reading devices still account for a significant chunk of the market. (The survey was sponsored by OverDrive, with the ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy.)

1. Librarysurvey hosted by OverDrive and American
eBook eBook Survey hosted by OverDrive
and American Library Association (ALA)
Library Association (ALA)
1. State of residency:
Response Response
Percent Count
Alabama 0.8% 583
Alaska 0.5% 394
Arizona 1.4% 1,032
Arkansas 1.0% 737
California 7.2% 5,428
Colorado 2.7% 2,031
Connecticut 1.0% 761
District of Columbia 0.1% 94
Delaware 0.3% 214
Florida 7.2% 5,422
Georgia 2.6% 1,977
Hawaii 0.5% 366
Idaho 0.5% 395
Illinois 3.0% 2,289
Indiana 2.8% 2,108
Iowa 1.5% 1,137
Kansas 0.3% 237
Kentucky 1.5% 1,130
Louisiana 1.8% 1,384
Maine 0.8% 581
1 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

2. Maryland 0.9% 684
Massachusetts 2.6% 1,977
Michigan 3.4% 2,578
Minnesota 3.4% 2,590
Mississippi 0.3% 203
Missouri 2.4% 1,799
Montana 0.6% 436
Nebraska 1.2% 878
Nevada 0.5% 392
New Hampshire 1.2% 883
New Jersey 1.5% 1,165
New Mexico 0.6% 417
New York 8.0% 6,007
North Carolina 0.9% 689
North Dakota 0.1% 48
Ohio 4.7% 3,545
Oklahoma 1.8% 1,378
Oregon 2.7% 2,003
Pennsylvania 4.0% 2,990
Rhode Island 0.7% 556
South Carolina 1.7% 1,257
South Dakota 0.3% 256
Tennessee 2.6% 1,938
Texas 5.6% 4,256
Utah 0.8% 627
Vermont 0.1% 104
2 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

3. Virginia 4.3% 3,204
Washington 5.2% 3,947
West Virginia 0.2% 186
Wisconsin 0.0% 29
Wyoming 0.1% 62
answered question 75,384
skipped question 1
2. Gender:
Response Response
Percent Count
Female 78.4% 59,109
Male 21.6% 16,275
answered question 75,384
skipped question 1
3 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

4. 3. Age:
Response Response
Percent Count
13-17 3.0% 2,255
18-29 8.6% 6,517
30-39 16.7% 12,578
40-49 20.1% 15,136
50-64 34.9% 26,304
65-70 9.8% 7,403
71+ 6.9% 5,191
answered question 75,384
skipped question 1
4. OPTIONAL: What is your household income, including all earners in your household?
Response Response
Percent Count
$ 20,000 - $29,000 9.7% 5,460
$30,000 -$ 49,000 16.2% 9,121
$50,000 - $59,000 11.0% 6,185
$60,000 -$ 74,999 14.9% 8,419
$75,000 - $99,999 18.7% 10,561
$100,000 - $149,000 18.9% 10,649
$150,000 + 10.7% 6,019
answered question 56,414
skipped question 18,971
4 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

5. 5. OPTIONAL: What is the highest level of education you have completed?
Response Response
Percent Count
Less than High School 1.9% 1,332
High School / GED 6.7% 4,759
Some College 17.4% 12,386
2- or 4-Year College Degree 40.9% 29,133
Postgraduate Degree (Master’s,
33.1% 23,574
Professional, etc.)
answered question 71,184
skipped question 4,201
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012
5 of 12 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

6. 6. How did you learn about downloading eBooks from your library? Please check all that
apply.
Response Response
Percent Count
Link from library’s website 52.6% 34,206
Library’s online catalog 22.4% 14,603
Promotional materials in the library 15.8% 10,260
Librarian 18.3% 11,891
News article / Blog 10.8% 7,031
TV / Radio 1.3% 871
Digital Bookmobile 0.8% 516
Recommendation from a friend or
20.7% 13,470
family member
Other 3.5% 2,290
Other (please specify)
5,465
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
6 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

7. 7. What do you feel are the benefits of using the library's download service? Please check
all that apply.
Response Response
Percent Count
Convenience 90.5% 58,883
Free 91.8% 59,737
24/7 access 85.8% 55,810
Selection of titles 23.7% 15,393
Compatibility with devices 49.7% 32,352
Ease of use 56.0% 36,440
Accessibility for the visually
4.1% 2,697
impaired
Other (please specify)
1,808
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
8. How long have you been downloading eBooks from your library?
Response Response
Percent Count
This is my first time 9.2% 6,004
0-1 month 5.4% 3,519
1-3 months 10.7% 6,940
3-6 months 19.1% 12,458
More than 6 months 55.5% 36,136
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
7 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

8. 9. What device(s) do you use to read eBooks from the library? Please check all that apply.
Response Response
Percent Count
Desktop or laptop PC 20.2% 13,162
Desktop or laptop Mac 4.2% 2,753
eBook Reader (e.g., Kindle®,
Sony® Reader™, Barnes & 83.5% 54,307
Noble nook™)
Smartphone (e.g., iPhone, Android,
19.3% 12,531
BlackBerry)
Tablet (e.g., iPad®, Galaxy) 18.7% 12,182
Other 1.7% 1,076
Other (please specify)
2,770
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
10. Has your digital borrowing (eBooks, audiobooks, etc.) from the library increased or
decreased over the past 6 months?
Response Response
Percent Count
Increased 60.4% 39,267
Decreased 6.8% 4,431
Stayed the same 32.8% 21,359
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012
8 of 12 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

9. 11. Which statement best describes your average use of the library?
Response Response
Percent Count
I visit the physical library but am
11.1% 7,217
new to downloading eBooks.
I both visit the physical library
and download eBooks from the 53.1% 34,577
library.
I rarely or never visit the physical
library but download eBooks from 31.2% 20,323
the library.
I rarely or never visit the physical
library and am new to downloading 4.5% 2,940
eBooks.
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
12. OPTIONAL: In a typical month, how often do you visit the library (# of visits)?
Response Response
Percent Count
Physical branch
94.6% 53,846
Virtual branch
95.4% 54,303
answered question 56,913
skipped question 18,472
Average # of visits: Physical - 2.4, Digital - 6.9
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012
9 of 12 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

10. 13. OPTIONAL: In a typical month, how many books (digital and physical) do you purchase at
13. OPTIONAL: In a typical month, how many books (digital and physical) do you purchase at
retail (includingIn a typical month, how many books (digital and physical) do you purchase at
13. OPTIONAL: audiobooks)?
retail (including audiobooks)?
retail (including audiobooks)?
Response Response
Response Response
Response
Percent Response
Count
Percent Count
Percent Count
Physical books from physical and
Physical books from physical and
Physical books from physical and
online booksellers 93.8% 52,011
online booksellers 93.8% 52,011
online booksellers 93.8% 52,011
Digital books (eBooks,
Digital books (eBooks,
Digital books (eBooks,
audiobooks) from online
audiobooks) from online 97.8% 54,216
audiobooks) booksellers
from online 97.8% 54,216
booksellers 97.8% 54,216
booksellers
answered question 55,461
answered question 55,461
answered question 55,461
skipped question 19,924
skipped question 19,924
skipped question 19,924
Average # of books purchased: Physical - 1.0, Digital - 2.2
14. OPTIONAL: Have your book purchases increased or decreased over the past 6 months?
14. OPTIONAL: Have your book purchases increased or decreased over the past 6 months?
14. OPTIONAL: Have your book purchases increased or decreased over the past 6 months?
Increased Decreased Stayed the same
Increased Decreased Stayed the same
Increased Decreased Stayed the same
Physical books 4.1% (2,228) 43.4% (23,614) 52.5% (28,517)
Physical books 4.1% (2,228) 43.4% (23,614) 52.5% (28,517)
Physical books 4.1% (2,228) 43.4% (23,614) 52.5% (28,517)
Digital books 43.5% (23,828) 12.7% (6,962) 43.7% (23,938)
Digital books 43.5% (23,828) 12.7% (6,962) 43.7% (23,938)
Digital books 43.5% (23,828) 12.7% (6,962) 43.7% (23,938)
answered question
answered question
answered question
skipped question
skipped question
skipped question
15. If a digital audiobook or eBook is unavailable in the library's digital collection or there is
15. If a digital audiobook or eBook is unavailable in the library's digital collection or there is
a wait time, would you consider purchasing it from theonline retailer? collection or there is
15. If a digital audiobook or eBook is unavailable in an library's digital
a wait time, would you consider purchasing it from an online retailer?
a wait time, would you consider purchasing it from an online retailer?
Response Response
Response Response
Response
Percent Response
Count
Percent Count
Percent Count
Yes 53.1% 34,516
Yes 53.1% 34,516
Yes 53.1% 34,516
No 46.9% 30,541
No 46.9% 30,541
No 46.9% 30,541
answered question 65,057
answered question 65,057
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
skipped question 10,328
skipped question 10,328
10 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 10 of 12 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites. 10 of 12

11. 16. Have you ever purchased a book (physical or digital) after borrowing that title from the
library?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 35.3% 22,941
No 64.7% 42,116
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
17. How do you find or discover books to read? Please check all that apply.
Response Response
Percent Count
Recommendations from family /
75.5% 49,086
friends
Public Library 57.5% 37,387
Reviews (newspaper, magazines,
74.3% 48,332
online)
Store recommendations 21.2% 13,767
Other 8.0% 5,186
Other (please specify)
13,999
answered question 65,057
skipped question 10,328
11 of 12
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.

12. 18. Please rank your preferred source for books (1 = most preferred, 6 = least preferred):
Response
1 2 3 4 5 6
Count
5.8% 11.4% 21.6% 19.7% 20.1% 21.4%
Physical bookstore 65,055
(3,775) (7,396) (14,046) (12,845) (13,092) (13,901)
19.7% 29.0% 17.2% 14.0% 13.1% 7.0%
Online bookstore 65,055
(12,791) (18,837) (11,216) (9,113) (8,525) (4,573)
60.0% 17.3% 8.5% 4.7% 3.8% 5.7%
Public Library 65,055
(39,009) (11,261) (5,537) (3,084) (2,487) (3,677)
General store with books (e.g., Wal- 3.6% 6.0% 12.8% 23.5% 24.2% 30.0%
65,055
Mart, Target) (2,341) (3,897) (8,315) (15,270) (15,726) (19,506)
4.6% 13.5% 21.0% 21.0% 20.3% 19.6%
Second-hand bookstore 65,055
(2,968) (8,789) (13,650) (13,663) (13,203) (12,782)
6.4% 22.9% 18.9% 17.0% 18.5% 16.3%
Borrow from family / friends 65,055
(4,171) (14,875) (12,291) (11,080) (12,022) (10,616)
answered question 65,055
skipped question 10,330
Survey Methodology
The survey, sponsored by OverDrive with the American Library Association Office for Information
Technology Policy, was conducted from June 13 to July 31, 2012 at thousands of US public library websites
powered by OverDrive. 75,384 visitors to the libraries’ eBook catalog pages completed all or part of
the survey. The survey was intended to provide insights into borrowing and buying behaviors of library eBook
readers and is not representative of the US population as a whole. For more information about the survey,
please visit the OverDrive Digital Library Blog or contact info@overdrive.com.
For more information about OverDrive, please visit www.overdrive.com. For more information about the
ALA Office for Information Technology Policy, please visit www.ala.org/offices/oitp.
Survey conducted online June 13 – July 31, 2012
12 of 12 © 2012 OverDrive Inc.
at U.S. public library websites.