Illinois bill would stop publishers from charging libraries more than public for e-books and audiobooks

Illinois bill would stop publishers from charging libraries more than public for e-books and audiobooks

Illinois librarians are asking lawmakers to intervene in e-book and audiobook licensing as they say publishers are making libraries pay more and adding in unfair contract terms.

Report: Illinois Bill Would Stop Publishers From Charging Libraries More Than Public For E-Books and Audiobooks

From the Chicago Tribune: “More and more taxpayer-funded library budgets are being eaten up by this licensing at unreasonably high prices,” [Monica] Harris [executive director of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System] said. “The hold list gets longer and longer for the constituents who are trying to, you know, use these materials and many libraries are now spending almost 50% of their collection budgets on e-books and audiobooks.” That gro…