United against "unsustainable" ebook pricing
Public library organizations demand sustainable ebook pricing from Big Five publishers
A coalition of five North American library associations has issued an open letter calling on major publishers and digital platform providers to negotiate new licensing models as unsustainable costs threaten equitable access to digital content.
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL), Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC), Public Library Association (PLA), and Urban Libraries Council (ULC) released a joint statement addressing the escalating crisis in ebook licensing for public libraries across the U.S. and Canada.
The core issue: While individual consumers pay an average of $13 for permanent ebook ownership, libraries typically spend $55 or more for a two-year license to the same title. According to the ULC Library Insights Survey, many libraries now allocate 50 percent or more of their collections budgets to e-content licenses that are either time-limited or expire after a certain number of circulations.
"Our organizations, representing the vast majority of public libraries across the U.S. and Canada, call on the Big Five publishers, as well as platform providers, to come to the table to work with libraries to identify and implement sustainable solutions, no matter the format," the letter stated.
Digital demand grows, budget constraints intensify
The pricing disparity has created a ripple effect throughout the public library ecosystem. Extended wait times for popular titles have become commonplace, while libraries' ability to support lesser-known authors and smaller publishers has diminished. The situation affects library systems of all sizes—from major urban centers to small rural communities.
"We know this isn't going away," ULC COO Angela Goodrich told Library Journal. "For a while it was limited to larger library systems. Now it's every library system, and whether that is a small rural library whose patrons are accessing e-content and ebooks through state libraries who help them purchase it, or whether it's a major library system…it's a universal issue now for all public libraries and in all types of communities."
Digital content usage has surged since 2022, with many libraries reporting 40 to 50 percent increases in e-usage. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, though discussions between publishers and libraries about e-content pricing—ongoing for years—were temporarily sidetracked during that period.
"For many small and rural communities, ebooks are a lifeline that help keep patrons of all ages connected to their love of reading. But with limited budgets, offering e-books at these prices has become unsustainable, and for many small libraries, impossible," said ARSL Executive Director Kate Laughlin in a statement. "Libraries need pricing models that are more in line with what they pay for their other materials to ensure they can fulfill their core missions of providing access to books and information for those who need them most."
Legislative pressure and industry solutions
The pricing crisis has prompted several U.S. states and Canadian provinces to explore consumer protection legislation as a response. However, Goodrich noted that patchwork state-by-state regulation would create challenges for both publishers and libraries. "Having 50 different sets of rules, and then Canada's Provinces too, is going to be challenging both for publishers and for public libraries," she said. "We're hoping that there might be some other solutions."
The coalition's letter proposes specific alternatives, including usage-based ebook pricing models and the option for libraries to purchase perpetual-use licenses. Additionally, the organizations call on platform providers to supply e-content–specific data to help libraries make more informed purchasing decisions.
"America's public libraries are critical to digital discovery of authors and titles, as well as literacy builders and champions. Libraries will pay a fair price for fair services to be able to deliver equitable access to the universe of information and creative works for all readers," said PLA President Dr. Brandy McNeil in a statement. "Libraries must be able to lend and preserve content in all its forms to advance literacy and learning with partners across the publishing ecosystem."
A call for collaboration
The coalition emphasizes shared interests between libraries and publishers, including promoting literacy, supporting intellectual freedom, and facilitating author discovery. The letter notes that public libraries invest millions of dollars in curating collections and that library patrons are often book buyers as well as borrowers.
"We think that the industry is ready to have those discussions with us," said Goodrich. "We were all struggling with what was an emerging technology when these systems and models were first created, and this is a juncture where we can look at some of these and say…. How do we get to a more efficient marketplace for everyone?"
The letter concludes: "It's time for a new dynamic, based in collaboration and mutual respect, that can build off those shared interests. It's time to finally address—rather than ignore—this crisis. This helps everyone—libraries, authors, patrons, publishers—thrive."
Publishers and authors defend licensing models
The publishing industry, represented by bodies like the Association of American Publishers (AAP), has strongly defended the current licensing models against public library demands. Publishers argue that the current ecosystem is highly effective, pointing to record-breaking digital check-outs as evidence that the system actively expands consumer access rather than restricting it. They maintain that the higher pricing for institutions reflects the multi-user nature of library distribution, where a single digital license can serve dozens of readers consecutively, unlike a single retail purchase. Furthermore, publishers stress that they already offer a diverse range of flexible licensing options to accommodate various library budgets and that any government intervention in pricing would undermine the standard commercial marketplace.
Authors and creator advocacy groups, most notably the Authors Guild, view the libraries' push for lower prices and permanent digital access as a direct threat to their livelihoods. They argue that the retail market for e-books could be severely cannibalized if library copies become cheap, permanent, and frictionless to borrow, ultimately leaving writers with significantly less income from their work. Authors emphasize that intellectual property rights must be protected, especially as digital content becomes the dominant format. From their perspective, the current time- and checkout-bound licenses ensure a steady, recurring revenue stream that allows mid-list and niche authors to continue writing in an increasingly challenging financial landscape.