CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Some interesting new on eBooks reported yesterday at Media Bistro.

Specifically, a look at the Hachette Book Group’s digital sales shows that eBooks soared to a 130% increase from the same period a year prior. eBooks and audiobooks account for 22% of Hachette’s overall 2011 revenue, compared to just 8% in 2010. A solid 62 Hachette titles made the New York Times eBook bestseller list last year.

On a broader industry scale, AAP’s most recent report also shows an eBook surge. While paperback and adult hardback were trending down, eBook sales jumped from $72m to $77m in a 12-month span. This doesn’t even account for holiday eBook sales, which will most certainly widen the year-to-year comparison.

If you’ve dragged your feet on joining the eBook movement, CPL is loading up the welcome wagon! We’ve got a handful of upcoming free workshops and classes during which our experts will provide a proper introduction to Chicago Public Library’s downloadable eBook collection. You’ll learn how to use CPL’s eBooks with your eReader (including Kindle) and mobile apps for smartphones & tablets.

Visit our official eBook events page and find the date and branch location that works best with your schedule.