Libraries & Librarians

IBD Publishes Profile of OverDrive Founder, Steve Potash

August 13, 2026

From Investor’s Business Daily (IBD): or IBD via MSN

Steve Potash was fed up with shuffling forms and documents when he began his career as a lawyer. So he developed technology to do the job for him.

“When I started my law practice, I had to produce so much paperwork,” recalled Potash, founder of OverDrive, the largest digital content distributor used by libraries and schools. To alleviate the burden, Potash automated his law practice. He developed what he says was some of the earliest law office productivity software. Potash licensed the software to a publishing house to create early PC-based electronic law books on floppy disks.

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Under Potash’s stewardship, “OverDrive has since grown from a small digital content startup into a global partner to over 80,000 libraries and schools, modernizing how communities access digital content across generations and geographies,” Potash, 73, told IBD as he transitions from his 40-year role as CEO to the company’s chairman.

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Potash’s journey as an entrepreneur showed him early on how to build a company.

“I was a serial entrepreneur when I created OverDrive, which was incorporated in 1986,” he said. “By then I already had about 10 startups. I kept seeing (areas) where technology could offer opportunities.”

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Potash isn’t about being tough on his staff. He encourages them instead.

“Once he sees someone’s potential, he gives them a vision and the confidence to bring it to life,” said Lori Franklin, OverDrive’s chief operating officer. She has worked directly with Potash for the 24 years she’s been with OverDrive.

“He leads with vision, inspires with purpose, builds trust through relationships, and empowers people to achieve more than they thought possible,” she said.