TORONTO – The Toronto Public Library is the newest establishment to make the “Heated Rivalry” audiobook obtainable with no ready checklist.
It follows different libraries in Canada and the U.S. which have made digital variations of the audiobook and e book, which impressed the hit Crave TV sequence, available to borrow — together with the Calgary Public Library, Burlington Public Library and, notably, the New York Public Library.
New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani informed metropolis dwellers over the weekend to remain indoors throughout a snowstorm and “benefit from our public library’s provide of free entry to ‘Heated Rivalry’ on e book or audiobook.”
The Toronto Public Library’s senior supervisor of collections improvement says the transfer is feasible due to a licensing possibility made obtainable by writer Harlequin.
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Matt Abbott says sometimes, publishers provide a “one copy, one person” licence, which mimics the mechanics of borrowing bodily books.
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However some publishers provide a distinct possibility, which permits libraries to purchase numerous licences which might be obtainable for quick obtain.
As soon as the variety of debtors reaches that restrict, the library can select to resume the licence to permit for extra quick downloads.
Abbott says they’ve blown previous the 100 downloads sometimes allotted to any such settlement, in order that they’ve needed to renew the deal a number of occasions over.
He says the primary three audiobooks within the “Recreation Changers” sequence, that are all obtainable for obtain, have been checked out 5,000 occasions this month.
“There are these titles that actually hit, and on this case we’re actually lucky that it’s a Canadian writer and the writer is making it obtainable so we are able to provide broader entry,” he says.
He notes the library is all the time maintaining a tally of its funds, however it’s going to proceed to supply the wait-list-free obtain possibility so long as the demand persists.
He says any such licensing could be nice for publishers as a result of it promotes the work.
“We all know library customers are guide patrons too and the parents who obtain these, they’ll go purchase books — they may purchase subsequent books within the sequence and such,” he says.
“Different publishers are just a little extra hesitant about offering broader entry and have completely different pricing fashions and like to maintain that degree of friction the place you place a maintain on an merchandise and it’s important to anticipate a bit longer.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 31, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
