Christopher Nolan’s new film has heightened interest in Homer’s 2,700-year-old epic The Odyssey at the Philadelphia Free Library, resulting in longer waitlists for print, ebooks, and audiobooks.
The library’s Odyssey collection spans 37 distinct versions across formats, including more than 200 ebook copies of seven editions and 43 digital audiobooks, with more than 525 people currently waiting.
An always-available ebook version allows readers to start immediately, helping to bypass some wait times.
To address demand, the library plans to acquire more licenses for ebooks and audiobooks to reduce patron wait times.