OverDrive Acquires divibib, Bringing Onleihe Libraries onto Libby through Partnership with ekz-Group

Acquisition deepens OverDrive's long-term commitment to libraries and readers across the German-speaking world

MUNICH/REUTLINGEN - August 11, 2026 - OverDrive, the company behind the Libby, Sora, and Kanopy apps for libraries and schools, today announced it has entered into a partnership with ekz-Group and acquired divibib GmbH, the ekz-Group subsidiary behind Onleihe, from ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH. The acquisition will give every Onleihe library and reader access to Libby, a world-class reading experience, while keeping the continuity, care, and local relationships that libraries have always counted on.

This is a partnership rooted in Europe, built by two organizations that have each spent years working alongside European libraries, publishers, and cultural institutions. Onleihe has served public libraries across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking communities throughout Europe since 2007. Over time, its libraries and patrons will move onto Libby, OverDrive's reading app, already used by more than 600 library partners across the DACH region, who recorded nearly ten million digital checkouts through Libby in 2025 alone.

Together, Libby and Onleihe bring libraries and readers a best-in-class reading platform and the most significant combined catalogs available in the DACH region - spanning German-language titles, international titles, audiobooks, and newspapers / magazines. Onleihe libraries and readers will move onto OverDrive's platform, eliminating the need to manage two separate systems. This will enhance the user experience for both readers and librarians.

"Our vision is simple," said Claudia Weissman, Geschäftsführerin of OverDrive Europe GmbH. "Onleihe has earned the trust of libraries over almost twenty years, and that trust is incredibly valuable. Our commitment is to preserve what matters most about Onleihe while bringing libraries the technology, innovation, and scale of Libby. This combination creates an extraordinary opportunity for public libraries throughout the DACH region," Weissman continued. "Libraries will no longer have to choose between trusted local expertise and world-class technology. They will have both."

Pierre Bourdon, Geschäftsführer of ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH and Senior Advisor DACH for OverDrive going forward, added, "This is an exciting next chapter for libraries across the region. Combining our local expertise and expansive German catalog across e-books, audiobooks, and newspapers with OverDrive's world-class technology, catalog, and team will result in a better experience for both readers and libraries. Librarians and patrons will benefit from one unified platform offering a massive selection of both German and international content. This partnership also enables us at ekz to focus on our core services for libraries, specifically physical media processing, furniture, and equipment."

OverDrive has operated in the DACH region for over a decade and established OverDrive Europe GmbH, headquartered in Germany, as its European headquarters earlier this year. divibib will remain headquartered in Reutlingen, Germany, continuing to operate from its longstanding base throughout the transition.

Libraries and readers currently using Onleihe will continue to have access to digital lending throughout the transition. Over time, all partners will utilize OverDrive's platform, giving libraries a unified experience and publishers greater reach across a larger combined network of libraries. OverDrive and ekz-Group will communicate with library partners over the coming weeks to share information about the transition timeline and the support resources available throughout the process.

About OverDrive

OverDrive is the company behind Libby, Sora, and Kanopy, the leading digital reading, learning, and entertainment apps for libraries and schools. OverDrive Europe GmbH, headquartered in Munich, serves more than 600 public library, school, and academic partners across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. For more information, visit de.overdrive.com.

About divibib / ekz -Group

divibib GmbH, a subsidiary of ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH, has operated the Onleihe digital lending platform since 2007, serving public libraries across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other European markets. ekz-Group is a longstanding provider of services and technology for public libraries in the German-speaking world.

Media Contacts

Madison Stoneburner, OverDrive

[email protected]

+1 216-573-6886 ext. 1389

Kathrin Klass, OverDrive

[email protected]

+49 176 64848 565

Pierre Bourdon, ekz-Group

[email protected]

+49 7121 144-111