![]() ![]() State lawmakers have given such bills bipartisan support, but several measures have faltered before states could implement them. As the cost of e-book licenses has continued to rise, however, librarians and their advocates in at least nine states have pushed for legislation that would require publishers - especially the “Big Five” publishers that produce the overwhelming majority of consumer books - to offer libraries more “reasonable” licensing terms. Publishers argue that the markups and other restrictions protect authors’ intellectual property rights and incentivize companies to invest in their work. Libraries also must pay several times the cover price of equivalent print versions. Such licenses now typically expire after a certain amount of time or number of loans. ![]() Since the early 2010s, libraries and publishers have clashed over the terms and costs of e-book licenses, which grant libraries permission to loan digital books. “We have dealt with publishers and rights-holders for centuries, but it’s never been as bad as it is now.” Courtney, the copyright adviser for Harvard University and a founder of Library Futures, an advocacy group pushing for the bills. “The current model is frustrating for libraries and archives whose service mission is totally different from the capitalist goals of a for-profit company,” said Kyle K. Over the long term, the measures might shore up libraries’ core mission in an increasingly digital environment. ![]() Supporters say the e-book lending legislation in several states would allow libraries to offer more digital material and shorten waitlists for popular titles. Librarians and their legislative allies are pushing publishers of electronic books to lower their prices and relax licensing terms, an effort that could make it easier for millions of library users to borrow the increasingly popular digital versions of books. ![]()
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