According to the Boston Globe, 500 million people checked out books from libraries in the year of 2021.
According to the American Library Association, libraries currently pay three to five times as much as consumers for ebooks and audiobooks. An ebook for $10 at retail could cost a library $50. The library can only lend the book for a limited time, usually two years, or for a limited number of loans, usually no more than 26. James Lonergan, director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, believes that publishers decided on 26 checkouts because they wanted to make sure the book was still usable before it was time to replace it. That's what happens to a book after 26 checkouts. The library has to replace it by paying full price for the right to lend it out 26 more times. Lonergan believes that this approach makes sense. Traditional printed books can only be borrowed by one user at a time, but in theory a digital book could be lent to thousands of patrons at once. Digital books last indefinitely, even though printed books wear out. Lonergan said that a book can't be available forever at the same price point. The publishers need to make money. Lonergan thinks libraries and publishers can work out more flexible terms. Publishers may charge a lower up-front cost for their digital products. The number of times libraries can lend out an ebook or audiobook might be expanded. The Massachusetts law would give publishers more incentive to deal with publishers. The Association of American Publishers is ready to fight. The Massachusetts bill raises significant constitutional and federal copyright law concerns and is an unwarranted intrusion into a vibrant and thriving market for ebooks and audiobooks that benefits authors and publishers, booksellers, libraries, and the general public, according to an email statement from the Association of American Publishers.
The federal government can regulate digital publishing practices, which is why the AAP has sued to block enforcement of the Maryland law.
The head of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners believes that if enough states pass ebook-pricing laws, Congress will act on the federal level.
