OverDrive, a provider of library eBook solutions, has been added to the OCLC Cataloging Partners Program. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center is the largest computer library service and research organization in the world.

OverDrive said its participation in the program has led to the creation of a new MARC record for eBooks that contains full-text bibliographic information pertaining to digital media and helps librarians save budget dollars in the collection development process. It claims libraries can now cost effectively add best-selling eBooks into their catalogs by using customized MARC records from OCLC for titles purchased from OverDrive.

"OCLC MARC records for OverDrive eBooks contain evaluative information for collection development purposes including file size and digital rights management settings," stated Pamela Turner, Director of Content for OverDrive. "This data enables librarians and patrons to compute download times, storage requirements, as well as detailed permissions associated with the copyrighted materials of the eBook as supplied by the source of acquisition. These may include the ability to copy or print portions of the title and whether the eBook may be 'read aloud' using the text-to-speech features of certain software programs," Ms Turner added.

As part of the program, OCLC is also adding OverDrive's Content Reserve collection of eBooks to WorldCat, a database of bibliographic information containing nearly 50 million records. In addition, OverDrive is providing OCLC with catalog data on tens of thousands of popular eBooks in several formats, including Adobe Reader (PDF), Microsoft Reader and Palm Digital Media. eBook titles from leading publishing houses such as HarperCollins PerfectBound, AOL Time Warner, McGraw-Hill, Scholastic and hundreds of others are available for purchase by libraries through Content Reserve, an online repository of eBooks in the world.