New York City Public Schools Celebrates 10 Million Books Borrowed On Its Citywide Digital Library
NEW YORK - New York City Public School’s (NYCPS) Libraries department today celebrated the milestone of lending its 10 millionth book from the NYCPS Citywide Digital Library (CDL) on Sora. This momentous achievement is a testament to the power of a connected and curious learning community.
“Reaching ten million books borrowed is a powerful celebration of our students’ enthusiasm, curiosity, and love of reading,” said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “With greater access to digital books through platforms like the CDL, we’re strengthening the foundation of literacy in every school and every home. This milestone also reflects the vision of NYC Reads: to not only get books into students’ hands, but to inspire a city of passionate readers, critical thinkers, and future leaders.”
Launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic’s disruption of in-person learning and library access, the CDL was designed to bridge the digital divide and put high-quality literature directly into students’ hands. Today, it has grown into a cornerstone of literacy across NYCPS, providing access to more than 61,000 e-books and audiobooks. Since its launch, students across the city have logged over ~5 million reading hours, proving that stories can now be accessed far beyond the four walls of a school or library. The platform has seen steady year-on-year growth in engagement, shown in appendix 1, showcasing the growing culture of reading across our school communities.
The CDL is a powerful tool for equity. By removing barriers like limited resources, physical distance, and time constraints, the platform ensures that all NYCPS students - regardless of their background or borough - can explore the world through reading. This democratization of access helps build literacy skills and a lifelong love of learning across the city.
At the heart of our CDL’s success are our school librarians, each one a dedicated professional who carefully curate collections, selects titles, and collaborates with educators to ensure that the digital library supports both curriculum goals and student interests. Their ongoing commitment to inclusive and diverse literature means every student can see themselves reflected in the books they read and to explore new perspectives that foster empathy and understanding.
“The Citywide Digital Library on Sora - an essential extension of school libraries - has surpassed 10 million circulations,” said Director of Library Services at NYCPS Melissa Jacobs. This milestone reflects the expertise and dedication of NYC school librarians, who have thoughtfully curated and actively promoted tens of thousands of high-quality, diverse digital titles to ensure equitable access for all students across New York City.”
“School librarians are critical in fostering student access to the Citywide Digital Library on Sora,” said Queens Library Coordinator Lindsay Klemas. “From helping their own students learn how to search for ebooks and audiobooks, to selecting and curating titles for the digital collection, school librarians are behind the scenes helping all readers across the five boroughs. The Citywide Digital Library on Sora allows NYCPS students and staff across the city to both learn about their word and feel seen.”
A successful continued partnership with OverDrive, a leading digital content platform that created Sora, has helped make our CDL freely available to all NYCPS students, teachers, and staff. NYCPS’ CDL is the first of Sora CDL to reach this milestone. With Single Sign-On (SSO) access, users can browse, borrow, and read with ease. Diary of a Wimpy Kid continues to be a citywide favorite!
“Ten million checkouts reflect ten million moments of discovery – proof of what’s possible when every student has equitable access to books,” said OverDrive Vice President of Education at Renee Davenport. “NYCPS is closing gaps and putting literacy at the center of student success, and we, at Sora, are so happy to be a part of that.”
Want some inspiration? Here are some reading lists curated by our very own Chancellor and Deputy Chancellors. Take a look!
- Chancellor Aviles-Ramos
- Deputy Chancellor Melendez
- Deputy Chancellor Hawkins
- Deputy Chancellor Rux
- Deputy Chancellor Foti
Appendix 1: YOY checkouts:
Contact: Chancellor’s Press Office press@schools.nyc.gov