Local libraries are struggling with the nationwide trend of having to deal with the continuously rising costs and demands of e-books.

According to a recent Associated Press article, across the country libraries are struggling to cover the costs of e-books, which have grown in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. E-Books can cost libraries up to four or more times the price consumers regularly pay, and e-books also do not last as most libraries are only leasing their copies from digital platforms and after a year or two the books expire.

Like many libraries, West Haven has been grappling with the soaring costs of e-books and audiobooks. The digital titles often come with a price tag that’s far higher than what consumers pay. While one hardcover copy of author Robin Cook’s latest novel costs the library $18, it costs $55 to lease a digital copy — a price that can’t be haggled with publishers.

And for that, the e-book expires after a limited time, usually after one or two years, or after 26 checkouts, whichever comes first. While e-books purchased by consumers can last into perpetuity, libraries need to renew their leased e-material.

Casey Rosseau prepares to walk his dog Darcy while listening to an e-book in West Hartford, Conn., Feb. 1, 2024. Rosseau, who estimates he reads about 200 books a year, said he'd like to see more regulation of what publishers can charge libraries. Libraries have been grappling with soaring costs of digital titles, both e-books and audio books, that libraries typically lease from publishers for a year or two, with limited usage. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

The modestly funded West Haven Library has spent more than $12,000 over the last three years to lease just 276 additional digital titles beyond what patrons can access through a consortium of public libraries. Eighty-four of those books are no longer available. If that same amount had been spent on paper books, it would have covered about 800 titles.

A LOCAL ISSUE TOO

Locally, LJ Martin, Outreach Coordinator with the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, said publishers determine the cost of e-books for libraries and the cost is constantly rising.

“Publishers determine the prices of e-books and e-audio books each year,” Martin said. “We see costs continue to rise. On average, newer digital books cost between $50 to $60 to license the book for 24 months. At this point, the library system has to look at repurchasing the title or, if the demand is no longer there, letting that copy leave the digital collection.”

Additionally, while Martin said that some books once the library buys them they can own, there is a push from publishers to have more titles only be available for a certain amount of time. Library budgets are not increasing enough every year to cover both the rising costs of this along with their monthly bills and print materials.

Librarians in several states have been pushing for legislation to rein in the costs and restrictions on electronic material, which has been growing in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrons are stuck on long waiting lists for audio and e-books, and digital offerings are limited.

“Adding on top of the cost is the demand,” Martin said. “When a title has a lot of holds, a decision is considered to buy multiple copies to meet the demands, but fewer new titles are bought overall. Another element of the digital collection is e-audio books, which are very popular and in demand. These titles cost even more, upwards of $90 to $110 for one title for a 12 to 24 month license.”

This year, lawmakers in states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii and New Hampshire have proposed bills aimed at closing the affordability gap. A bill was introduced in Virginia but was tabled in February.

They face strong opposition from the publishing industry, which argues the legislation undermines intellectual property values and will harm the publishing ecosystem.

The digital collection is in demand locally, Martin said, with over 11,000 digital titles being checked out in February alone.

LONG WAITLISTS

At the Prendergast Library, Tress Williams, library operations manager, said that while the library has been fortunate to receive grant funding from the Darrah Foundation in recent years which has been specifically set for purchasing e-books and e-audiobooks, they are still struggling.

“Unfortunately, for most types of e-books, publishers only allow one user to read a title at a time,” Williams said. Just like a physical book, when a copy is checked out, it isn’t available to anyone else – so the waitlists for current bestsellers can become quite long. E-books typically cost quite a bit more than physical books, and digital audiobooks are even more expensive.”

Williams added that the high cost of e-books and the popularity of them means that outpacing the demand will never happen, but the library buys what they can and encourages patrons to sign up for digital access to libraries like the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library. The Prendergast is doing their best with the funds they have to purchase a diverse range of materials to meet community interest, while responding to the demand in real time and meeting the needs of patrons who are also still checking out physical material.

Shannon Taylor, Lakewood Library director, said that when she began as director in 2019 the cost of e-books was about $200 to $300, and last January that had risen to $450. The highest cost for e-books in 2019 for Lakewood was $257.

“The cost and demand began rising during the pandemic and it kept increasing,” Taylor said. “It is still increasing. In our materials budget we keep putting more money towards e-books and e-audiobooks, but that shifts that money away from other things. The money we have coming in has not increased.”

In 2021, Maryland passed a law that would have required publishers to make e-books available on “reasonable terms” to libraries if they were being offered to the general public. That was struck down by a judge in 2022, after publishers successfully argued that federal copyright law bars states from regulating publishing transactions. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a similar measure in 2021.

Newer legislative proposals try a different approach.

An Illinois bill would void contracts between libraries and publishers that include certain provisions, such as restricting a library’s right to determine loan periods for licensed electronic material. Massachusetts and Connecticut are looking at similar proposals.

Laurie Becker, Director of the Falconer Library, said that one of the main reasons they are able to allow their readers the ability to check out e-books and e-audiobooks is thanks the CCLS system providing Libby; a reading app by OverDrive that allows readers to borrow e-books, and audiobooks from the library for free. Each library in the system pledges funds to contribute toward the purchase of these materials.

“The cost to the system continues to rise as e-books are much more expensive than books in print,” Becker said. “If the CCLS did not provide this service for us we would have a very difficult time providing our patrons with e-books and audiobooks and it would be impossible to have as many options readily available. We are thankful to have this service accessible through the system for our patrons.”

Director of the Clymer-French Creek Library, Darlene Redlecki also mentioned Libby, adding that while the library is more than happy to help cover the cost of this program as a part of the CCLS system, it does add a strain to the budget.

“Considering our increase in usage, the CFCFL’s contribution has nearly doubled,” Redlecki said. “We’re excited for growth and continuously strive to meet the needs and demands of our patrons, so we’re glad to add. However, that does mean we will have to fundraise more and rely even more heavily on donations to meet necessary and increasing costs. It does directly affect our budget.”

Redlecki added that the library’s Board of Trustees is instrumental in making sure financial changes are met and improvements are ascertained, saying that the library works hard to keep up with the changes and keep patrons happy.