Libraries are grappling with escalating costs and restrictions on e-books and audiobooks, presenting financial challenges for these essential institutions.
For example, a hardcover copy of a popular novel by Robin Cook costs West Haven Library $18, while leasing a digital copy comes with a hefty $55 price tag- a non-negotiable expense imposed by publishers.
Compounding the issue is the fact that leased e-books come with expiration dates, typically lasting one or two years or after 26 checkouts, in stark contrast to consumer-purchased e-books that endure indefinitely.
This places a continuous burden on libraries to renew their leased e-materials, contributing to financial strain, as reported by AP News.
Despite being modestly funded, West Haven Library has spent over $12,000 in the last three years, leasing 276 additional digital titles beyond their existing offerings. Unfortunately, 84 of these digital books are no longer available, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current model.
Colleen Bailie, a librarian, highlighted the impact during a recent public hearing, likening it to building a playground with tax dollars only to have it dismantled after two years of use.
A library patron looks at a book at the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library on January 11, 2011, in San Francisco, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
It's Libraries vs. Book Publishers
Legislation emerges as a crucial focus to address these challenges, with librarians advocating for measures to control costs and restrictions on electronic materials. Several states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii, and New Hampshire, have proposed bills in 2024 to bridge the affordability gap. However, Virginia's bill was tabled in February.
The publishing industry argues that the current arrangement is fair, emphasizing that e-book licenses for libraries enable multiple patrons to borrow them, reducing the per-reader cost compared to consumer rates.
Libraries Online Inc., a Connecticut interlibrary consortium, struggles with significant monthly expenses of about $20,000 on e-books for its 38 members. Twenty percent of the consortium's budget goes toward renewing out-of-date titles, underscoring the financial hardship libraries face.
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Amid the challenges, e-books and audiobook disposal are not an option for libraries like West Hartford, where patrons like Casey Rosseau, an information technology worker with worsening eyesight, rely on digital platforms. Rosseau reads about 200 audiobooks annually through OverDrive's Libby app.
Efforts to legislate change face staunch opposition from the publishing industry, contending that such measures undermine intellectual property values. Recent proposals in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Connecticut aim to reshape negotiation terms between libraries and publishers.
A Complicated Issue in Today's Digital Age
In a broader context, traditional library practices of acquiring, preserving, and cataloging published materials are being challenged in the digital age.
According to The Guardian, libraries are routinely denied ownership of digital books, forced into temporary licenses, and subjected to repeated payments rather than outright ownership.
Certain publishers explicitly identify libraries as direct economic competitors, further complicating the challenges faced by these institutions.
Digital books, subject to removal and unauthorized alterations, compromise reader privacy as major players monitor activities, creating databases for potential sale or sharing with various entities.
Despite criticism, legislators and librarians emphasize the value of public libraries and their communities and the necessity for legislative reform to reduce the financial burden.
With a CAGR of 2.56%, the worldwide book market is expected to reach USD 173.83 billion by 2030 from USD 140.85 billion in 2022, led by publishers Amazon, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins Publishers, and others.
According to Research and Markets, traditional publishers, online book vendors, and self-publishing platforms compete in the sector, which includes physical books, e-books, audiobooks, and digital formats.
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