Libraries across the U.S. are locked in a battle over e-books, which generally cost much more to purchase than printed books. And this expense is weighing heavily on the institutions.
E-books cost libraries more because of licensing agreements with e-book publishers. These publishers "typically require libraries to renew the license to each e-book every two years, or after 26 loans — policies that libraries call prohibitively expensive," said Axios.
When libraries "buy print copies, we get substantial discounts," Sarah McCusker, the head of the Connecticut Library Association, said to Marketplace. While the average hardcover book costs about $15, the e-book "might be $100, $120, and we only have that for two years." When the license expires, libraries must "purchase it again."
Publishers say they are raising prices out of necessity. And the Association of American Publishers argues that it "must protect the rights of copyright owners — that is, authors — to be fairly compensated for their work," said Axios.
Libraries in several states have been "pushing for legislation to rein in the costs and restrictions on electronic material," said The Associated Press. Lawmakers in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Hampshire "proposed bills aimed at closing the affordability gap."
Connecticut has had the most success, passing a law that makes it so libraries cannot "enter into licensing agreements that are simultaneously time-limited and cap the number of checkouts permitted," said The New York Times. And librarians are hopeful this could also cut down on long wait times for e-book rentals. | 
