[ti:US Libraries Struggle to Pay for Costly Digital Books]
[al:Science & Technology]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-03-21]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]A growing number of American libraries are struggling to offer users digital versions of books because they cost a lot more than physical copies.
[00:14.31]Public demand for digital materials - including books called e-books as well as audiobooks - has been rising at U.S. libraries since the COVID-19 pandemic. 
[00:30.18]But libraries have had difficulties meeting demand.
[00:34.80]This has forced many librarians to put users on waiting lists to borrow digital materials.
[00:43.84]Associated Press (AP) reporters recently spoke with library officials about the problem. 
[00:53.80]One library they visited was in the community of West Haven, Connecticut. 
[01:00.42]There, library workers noted big cost differences between physical and digital books.
[01:09.69]Most libraries are currently not permitted to buy e-books for a set price like individuals who purchase them online.
[01:21.62]This is because libraries offer the books to many people to borrow.
[01:28.15]One example is a work by bestselling writer Robin Cook. 
[01:33.73]A physical, hard copy version of Cook's latest book costs the West Haven Library $18 to buy, the AP reports. 
[01:45.81]But the cost of leasing a digital copy of the same book costs the library $55.
[01:55.20]Library officials told the AP lease prices are set by book publishers and generally cannot be re-negotiated. 
[02:05.88]Such leasing agreements end after a limited time. Usually this means the lease lasts for up to two years or until it has been borrowed a set number of times.
[02:20.70]The cost of the leases is putting financial pressure on libraries.
[02:26.75]Officials at West Haven Library told the AP they do not have a large budget.
[02:34.13]But they said they had to spend more than $12,000 over the past three years to lease 276 additional digital books that were not available within a larger library network.
[02:51.26]The officials said 84 of those books were no longer available. 
[02:57.12]And they noted that if the same $12,000 had been spent on paper books, the amount would have paid for about 800 copies.
[03:08.44]"Imagine if a playground was built at a school with tax dollars, only to be taken down after two years of use," librarian Colleen Bailie said at a recent public hearing on the issue.
[03:25.60]Publishers say their agreements with libraries are fair. 
[03:30.51]They say that, while libraries pay a higher lease rate, they can make the books available to many users over time.
[03:41.73]Librarians in several states have been pushing for legislation to reduce high costs and restrictions on digital materials. 
[03:52.98]This year, lawmakers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii and New Hampshire all proposed bills aimed at lowering costs.
[04:06.27]But the measures have faced strong opposition from the publishing industry. 
[04:13.18]The industry argues the proposals do not effectively respect intellectual property owned by copyright holders and would harm the publishing businesses.
[04:26.53]Libraries Online Inc. is a digitally connected library group operating in Connecticut. 
[04:34.62]The organization says it currently spends about $20,000 a month on e-books for its 38 members. 
[04:44.82]The cost of renewing expired e-books takes about 20 percent of the group's budget, e-book committee chair Rebecca Harlow told the AP.
[04:57.89]"If we replaced all of the content that has expired this year, the cost would exceed our entire annual budget for e-books," Harlow recently told lawmakers.
[05:12.11]"We have completely lost the ability to build a library collection," she added.
[05:19.34]In Illinois, a legislative proposal would cancel contracts between libraries and publishers that include certain rules.
[05:29.82]These include restricting a library's right to decide loan periods for licensed electronic material. 
[05:39.09]Massachusetts and Connecticut are considering similar proposals.
[05:45.53]Last year, groups representing publishers, booksellers and writers formed a group - the Protect the Creative Economy Coalition - to oppose state measures.
[05:58.92]But Julie Holden, assistant library director for the Cranston Public Library in Rhode Island, said she thinks legislative action is needed.
[06:11.38]Otherwise, local librarians will continue to face financial pressure and will need to keep examining long lists of expiring digital leases to decide which ones can be replaced.
[06:26.66]Holden added, "Taxpayers who fund our public libraries deserve better. Way better."
[06:35.92]I'm Bryan Lynn.