HARTFORD, Conn. – West Haven, a city in Connecticut, is grappling with the financial strain caused by the steep costs of e-books and audiobooks at public libraries. Libraries, including the one in West Haven, are facing exorbitant prices for digital copies of popular titles, with these prices often much higher than what consumers pay. For instance, while the library can purchase a hardcover copy of a bestselling author like Robin Cook for $18, leasing a digital copy can cost up to $55. The cost issue is further compounded by the fact that these digital copies expire after a limited time or a certain number of checkouts, which means libraries must continually renew their leases.
This financial burden has hit the modestly funded West Haven Library hard, as they have spent over $12,000 in the past three years to lease just 276 additional digital titles beyond their existing collection. Unfortunately, 84 of these books are no longer available, leaving the library with fewer resources. This expenditure could have covered around 800 paper books instead.
Librarians in several states, including Connecticut, have been advocating for legislation to address the high costs and restrictions associated with electronic materials. The COVID-19 pandemic has only further highlighted the need for affordable and accessible digital offerings, as patrons face long waiting lists for audiobooks and e-books. This year alone, states such as Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii, and New Hampshire have proposed bills aimed at closing the affordability gap. However, these efforts face strong opposition from the publishing industry, which argues that such legislation undermines the value of intellectual property and could harm the publishing ecosystem.
Despite the opposition, librarians are pushing forward, emphasizing the need to make digital material more affordable and accessible. The demand for these materials has been steadily rising, with a 19% increase in e-book, audiobook, and digital magazine borrowing worldwide last year. Connecticut’s Libraries Online Inc., an interlibrary consortium, currently spends approximately $20,000 per month on e-books for its members. The cost of replacing expired titles eats up 20% of the consortium’s budget, severely limiting their ability to build a comprehensive library collection.
Dumping e-books and audiobooks is not a viable solution for libraries like West Haven. Library patrons who heavily rely on digital materials, like Casey Rosseau, an information technology worker from West Hartford, experience the challenges firsthand. With worsening eyesight, Rosseau relies on audiobooks to access the latest titles. However, he often finds himself on waiting lists for months before being able to enjoy popular authors like John Grisham or James Patterson.
Previous attempts to regulate the availability of e-books in libraries have faced legal challenges. In 2021, a Maryland law that required publishers to make e-books available on “reasonable terms” was struck down, with publishers arguing that federal copyright law prohibits such state regulations. To overcome these challenges, recent legislative proposals take a different approach, focusing on voiding unfavorable contract terms between libraries and publishers that restrict a library’s ability to determine loan periods.
Despite the hurdles, librarians and their advocates are determined to find a solution. They argue that local communities deserve more support from public libraries and demand better terms for accessing digital content at affordable prices. With libraries’ ability to provide crucial resources in question, the pressure for legislative change continues to grow.