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Libraries protest publisher’s new restriction on e-books

WARREN — The Warren-Trumbull County Public Library board is expected to join Youngstown and Mahoning County and other Ohio libraries in denouncing Macmillan Publishers decision limiting the number of new e-books and e-audiobooks that libraries can receive.

Macmillan Publishers, one of the five largest book publishing companies, beginning Nov. 1, will restrict the number of e-books to libraries during the first eight weeks after new works are released.

It will make a single copy of new e-books available to each library system upon that book’s release, at the half-price rate of $30, according to the American Library Association. Libraries may obtain additional e-book copies of that title eight weeks after publication, for a period of two years at the cost of $60 per license. The licenses can then be renewed for an additional two years.

The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s board of trustees Sept. 13 passed a resolution similar to the one now being considered by the Warren-Trumbull County board.

In its resolution, the Youngstown and Mahoning library trustees noted the system had an estimated 205,000 checkouts in 2018 for e-books and e-audiobooks, which is a 98 percent increase from 2014 checkouts.

The new e-book and e-audiobook policy will represent a significant financial burden impacting taxpayer-supported libraries’ overall operations and services, with The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County already spending more than $450,000 in 2018 on e-books and e-audiobooks, a 201 percent spending increase compared with 2014, according to the resolution.

“We are concerned if Macmillan Publishers successfully is able to do this, other publishers will do the same,” said Aimee Fifarek, executive director of The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. “This is a draconian change.”

Fifarek said the impact to readers will grow as new e-books are released, and they will not be as readily available to library users.

“This policy basically limits the number of titles for patrons that are most dependent on libraries,” said Jim Wilkins, executive director of the Warren-Trumbull library system. “Limiting one copy per library system will create a backlog of people waiting to read the new e-books or e-audiobooks.

“Currently, we can order up to 25 copies each of new e-books and e-audiobooks,” he said. “The new policy does not affect older e-books or e-audiobooks.”

Publishers are saying that libraries are cannibalizing their materials and costing them sales, according to Fifarek.

“There is research that library use of e-books and e-audiobooks actually increase sales of the books,” she said.

Although the percentage of people using e-books and e-audiobooks has significantly increased over the years, Fifarek said most patrons are still taking out more traditional books.

“People — young and old — still like the feel of having a book in their hands,” she said. “The decline in the reading of actual books is leveling off. We are seeing an increasing number of people reading books.”

Libraries across the state are supporting the effort and sending resolutions to the Ohio Library Association.

The Ohio Library Association approved its own resolution, stating there are 8.5 million card holders throughout the state and millions of Ohioans use digital content as their preferred or only access to books, music and movies. The resolution noted more than 22 million e-books and e-audiobooks were taken out of libraries in 2018.

On Sept. 11, the American Library Association and the Public Library Association announced a campaign to stop the effort to limit libraries’ access to newly released e-books and e-audiobooks.

There is an online petition at www.eBooksForAll.org for members of the public to urge Macmillan Publishers CEO John Sargent to reverse the proposed embargo on e-books sold to libraries.

“ALA’s goal is to send a clear message to Macmillan’s CEO John Sargent: E-book access should be neither denied nor delayed,” said ALA executive director Mary Ghikas. “Our members are telling us their patrons want an easy way to join this movement and demand e-book access for all. We heard them, and today’s launch is the beginning of a public advocacy campaign in support of that. Libraries have millions of allies out there, and we’re inviting them to take action.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com

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