Delnicki Supports Keeping Ebooks Affordable and Accessible

Delnicki Supports Keeping Ebooks Affordable and Accessible 

HARTFORD- State Representative Tom Delnicki (R-14) strongly supported a bill that would protect librarians and the people who use libraries from “predatory” publishing industry practices on Ebooks and audiobooks.

The bill would prohibit libraries from agreeing to publisher’s licensing terms if those terms were restricting in nature. The bill includes a trigger that would only go into effect if one or more states with a total or combined population of 7 million enact similar laws.

“The high cost of eBooks and digital audiobook licenses has placed a significant financial burden on town libraries who are working with limited financial resources, said Rep. Delnicki, who is a co-sponsor of the bill and has worked on the legislation for four years. ” I had many a conversation with former South Windsor librarian Mary Etter on this costly issue, she educated me on the issue of unfair licensing agreements.”

Due to the high cost of eBook and digital audiobook licenses for commercial use, libraries are often forced to let expiring licenses go and are limited to the number of eBooks and audiobooks that can be purchased for the libraries use.

According to the library groups that testified at the public hearing, restrictive terms by the publisher could: “include artificial rental limits, prevent retention of collections over time, or prevent sharing of access across CT library systems, and other important provisions, including egregious pricing for e-books and audiobooks.”

The bill, Senate Bill 1234, passed the House of Representatives and the State Senate and now awaits Governor Ned Lamont’s signature.