From the OverDrive Digital Distribution Blog:
Most importantly, we set the record straight: Do library catalogs cannibalize eBook sales? The answer is a resounding no. Research presented in the White Paper shows that most library visitors use eBook catalogs for research and discovery.
In 2009 alone, visitors to OverDrive download library websites viewed more than 401 million pages. Among unique visitors to these download library pages, 80 percent did not check out a digital title, yet still visited 13 pages on average. We also found through a library patron survey that 43 percent of patrons would consider purchasing an eBook or audiobook if the title they sought were unavailable at their library branch.
More info at the blog and you can access the full white paper here.
