The Indiana State Library has announced the formation of a new statewide e-book consortium, the Indiana Digital Library, launching March 1.

Nearly 200 public libraries in the state, including Bartholomew County, Bedford, Brownstown, Jackson County, Jennings County and Scott County, will all share the OverDrive platform to create a statewide consortium of e-books, e-audios and magazines.

OverDrive/Libby users will need to log into their app again, using the library card number they currently use in the eIndiana Digital Consortium. Items they currently have checked out and their hold list will still be there when they log back in.

Unfortunately, their reading history will not be in the new app. If they want to keep their reading history, they can download it before March 1.

If they currently use the OverDrive app, they should switch to the Libby app. The OverDrive app is no longer supported, and the Libby app is OverDrive’s updated version of its original app.

This new consortium — made up of libraries that serve populations under 150,000 — will benefit libraries, taxpayers and library users. Customers of consortium member libraries will have the ability to borrow materials from both their own library’s collections and the member library collections. The state library is paying the platform fees for the consortium, and 100% of the member libraries’ fees will be spent on materials.

Information about the consortium may be found online at in.gov/library/services-for-libraries/indiana-digital-library.

Jackson County Public Library Director Julia Aker said she expects the merger to go smoothly, but if users run into trouble, they can email [email protected] or call 812-523-4636.