Publishing WIDE

Library distribution is one of the most overlooked advantages of publishing wide. This guide explains how indie authors reach library readers through OverDrive, Hoopla, Bibliotheca, and IngramSpark's library network—and why it belongs in every wide strategy.

OverDrive is the largest library digital content distributor in the world, and Libby is the app millions of library patrons use to borrow from it. For wide authors, getting into this network is one of the clearest examples of audience a retail-only strategy simply doesn't reach.

Bibliotheca's cloudLibrary is the third major digital library platform alongside OverDrive and hoopla, reaching over 3,000 library systems globally. For wide authors, understanding how it differs from the other two — and why that difference matters — is what makes library distribution work as a whole.

Author's Republic distributes audiobooks to 50+ retail, streaming, and library platforms—including Audible, Apple, Spotify, Hoopla, and OverDrive—with no exclusivity and no monthly fees. This guide covers how Author's Republic works, how it compares to Findaway Voices, and how to use it as part of a professional wide audio strategy.