Penguin rolling out new ebook library lending program

Book publisher Penguin is reportedly getting ready to announce a new ebook lending program today, according to the New York Times.

Penguin previously yanked all its ebooks from a larger library lending program powered by Overdrive (and available on Amazon Kindles) about a year ago. The publisher was concerned that the DRM on the ebooks wasn’t secure enough.

Under the new lending program, Penguin will work with Baker & Tayler to provide its ebooks to libraries in Los Angeles and Cleveland, Ohio. The program allows library members to check out an ebook, for a limited time, six months after a book becomes available in retail stores. Libraries can only checkout one ebook per person (unless they buy multiple copies, and the library also has to purchase a new license for each ebook every year. The program will allegedly roll out to more libraries in the future.

Penguin is a huge book publisher, so any progress in making its ebook titles available in libraries is a win for at least the two initial cities.

According to the report, Penguin is also launching an audiobook lending program through OneClickdigital, which will be available to multiple libraries across the country.