Macmillan eBook Embargo
Recent changes to the way certain publishers allow libraries to purchase eBooks may be impacting your ability to find titles in OverDrive and other eBook and audiobook collections. Below, we have tried to answer some questions that you may have.
Why does Jefferson County only have one copy of the title I want to borrow?
On November 1, 2019, Macmillan, one of the largest publishers in the United States, changed their lending terms and launched an eBook embargo targeting public libraries. Under the new terms, all public libraries—no matter their size—can only purchase one copy of each new release of an eBook for the first two months after the book is published. For Jefferson County Library Cooperative and our 318,469 cardholders, we will have access to exactly one copy until the embargo lifts.
Why are publishers doing this?
Some publishers believe that library patrons will not wait and will instead buy their own copy of the book.
We disagree.
Many of our patrons simply prefer to borrow material from the
library while others are economically disadvantaged. Restrictive
purchasing models for libraries decreases access and presents a
major barrier to our mission of remaining "Free to All."
In addition, publishers have argued that they are restricting access to only one format of these books, the eBook format.
We, however, strongly believe electronic formats increase accessibility for users who may have physical conditions that affect their ability to read other formats, and digital access also helps users who cannot easily visit the library in person.
Shouldn't publishers be allowed to decide what their pricing model is? Won't this make more money for authors?
We support writers, creators and publishers, and believe they should all be allowed to profit from their works. But these restrictions increase disparity in our communities, both in Jefferson County and across the state of Alabama.
Libraries already pay more than retail for access to eBooks and downloadable audiobooks. Costs for one copy of a best-selling fiction eBook title may approach nearly 80 dollars. In addition, our access to these books generally expires after either 24 months, or 52 checkouts.
There is also evidence that library patrons are in fact also avid book purchasers. For example, a 2019
survey of generational reading habits conducted by
Library Journal found that 42 percent of millennial readers said they turn to the library in order to
"take a chance on a new author or book I never heard of for free." But notably, once they have borrowed that book, 77 percent of them go on to purchase additional books by the same author. Libraries are more often a great marketing channel for authors and publishers rather than simple competition, while the library market and its combined purchasing power represents a significant channel for publishers.
What are libraries doing about this?
The Jefferson County Library Cooperative is joining many other libraries across the country in objecting to these changes.
We urge publishers to consider the impact of these embargoes on readers, and we are encouraging our patrons to also let publishers know that these restrictions are unfair to readers and actually limit the reach and availability of authors' works.
Libraries across the country are so concerned about the impact of these practices on our patrons that the American Library Association has released a
report urging lawmakers to curb anti-competitive practices of digital market actors. The report addresses publishers' abusive pricing and restrictive licensing terms for libraries.
What can I do about this?
Anyone who wishes to contact the publishers directly to voice their opinion as book readers about these changes can use the following contact information:
Email Blackstone Audio directly at:
libraryservices@blackstoneaudio.com
Email Macmillan directly at:
elending.feedback@macmillan.com
The American Library Association is sponsoring a petition and is seeking signatures from readers and library users:
https://ebooksforall.org/
Works Cited
Rea, Amy. "Reading through the Ages." Library Journal, vol. 144,
no. 12, Dec. 2019, p. 16. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=140328055&site=ehost-live.
AmericanLibraryAssociation. Competition in Digital Markets, October 15, 2019.
http://www.ala.org/news/sites/ala.org.news/files/content/mediapresscenter/CompetitionDigitalMarkets.pdf