E-books in Libraries
![Digital Public Library Ecosystem 2023. [Three images of people using audiobooks and ebooks]](/sites/default/files/styles/recent_news_340x340_fp/public/news/news/pressreleaseimages/Digital%20PL%20Ecosystem.png.webp?itok=oMLqU42x)
New ALA Report Maps Increasingly Complex Digital Public Library Ecosystem
With a 34 percent increase in digital book borrowing since 2019, the size and scope of the digital content ecosystem for public libraries and patrons have made transparency more important than ever, according to a new report released today by the American Library Association (ALA).

ALA upholds Maryland e-books law and state’s defense as federal district court issues preliminary injunction
WASHINGTON--On February 16, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted a preliminary injunction of Maryland’s library digital book law in the case of Association of American Publishers v. Brian Frosh. The legislation, which went...
ALA disappointed in New York Governor's rejection of ebook equity legislation
WASHINGTON, DC — On Dec. 29, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed legislation that would require publishers to offer licenses for electronic books to libraries under reasonable terms (S2890B / A5837B). The bills had passed the New York state senate...
ALA Joint Digital Content Working Group paper calls for improved access, licensing models, pricing to serve readers
CHICAGO - “ The Need for Change: A Position Paper on E-Lending by the ALA Joint Digital Content Working Group” examines digital lending in public, academic, and K-12 school libraries. The paper notes current and long-standing challenges in digital content...
Access to ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman textbooks during the COVID-19 pandemic
CHICAGO — Used in a variety of courses, ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman’s textbooks are available in e-book format for libraries and individuals through aggregators and other distributors. To help maintain academic continuity during the pandemic, we are...
Access to ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman e-books during the COVID-19 pandemic
CHICAGO — In response to the need to support remote access to information during the COVID-19 outbreak, ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman is making materials easier to access through the following promotions. Institutions interested in offers outside the...
ALA welcomes cancellation of Macmillan embargo
WASHINGTON, DC — Today Macmillan Publishers announced that it would return to the library e-book pricing model that was in effect on Oct. 31, 2019, effectively canceling the embargo on sales of new titles to libraries, a policy which went into effect on...
PLA to offer new webinars on #eBooksForAll campaign, trauma-informed approach to library service
CHICAGO – Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) announced two additional webinars to take place in December. The first, #eBooksForAll Campaign Update , will be held Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 1–2 p.m. Central Time. Presented by PLA and the American...

ALA turns to Congress as Macmillan ignores public call to reverse library e-book embargo
WASHINGTON—Today Macmillan Publishers begins to limit access to e-books through America’s libraries by instituting an eight-week embargo on library e-book purchases. Despite robust public demand to reverse the policy, the publisher is moving ahead with...

ALA delivers #eBooksForAll Petition, with 160,000+ Signatures, to Macmillan Publishers
Library leaders, publishers meet to discuss growing opposition to library e-book embargo as Congress undertakes inquiry NEW YORK – Today American Library Association (ALA) leaders, members and supporters delivered a petition with nearly 160,000 signatures...
ALA denounces Amazon, Macmillan in response to Congressional inquiry on competition in digital markets
Report cites abusive pricing, denial and delay of sales to libraries by major publishers WASHINGTON, D.C.– Current practices by content publishers and distributors in digital markets limit libraries’ ability to deliver core services, according to a new...

Over 100,000 readers nationwide join #eBooksForAll campaign against planned embargo
Thousands more adding their names to petition daily CHICAGO – In just one month, the American Library Association’s (ALA) #eBooksForAll campaign has garnered more than 100,000 signatures from readers, authors, library staff and patrons from all 50 states...

Public libraries across U.S. join American Library Association’s first “digital book club” with gripping new ebook
CHICAGO – Readers nationwide can now borrow and discuss the first ebook selection of the Libraries Transform Book Pick, a new digital reading program from the American Library Association and Rakuten OverDrive. From Oct. 7-21, 2019, book lovers across the...

ALA and OverDrive collaborate to offer public libraries across U.S. a new action-packed adventure for a “digital book club”
CHICAGO – The American Library Association (ALA) and Rakuten OverDrive have collaborated on a digital reading program – a national “digital book club” – which connects readers nationwide with simultaneous access to the same ebook through their public...

ALA launches national campaign against e-book embargo
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – Today the American Library Association (ALA) and Public Library Association (PLA) announced a public campaign in response to recent efforts to limit library access to e-books. In a press conference held at the Nashville Public...
Public Library Association condemns Macmillan Publishers library lending model
CHICAGO -- The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has joined its parent organization in denouncing Macmillan Publishers’ new library eBook lending model. Under the new model, scheduled to take effect...
ALA denounces new Macmillan library lending model, urges library customers to voice objections
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Library Association (ALA) denounces the new library ebook lending model announced today by Macmillan Publishers. Under the new model, a library may purchase one copy upon release of a new title in ebook format, after which...
ALA uneasy about Simon & Schuster digital lending model changes
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Library Association (ALA) expressed unease about changes announced by Simon & Schuster (S&S) to its ebook and digital audio book lending model for libraries. These changes place a financial burden on public libraries and...
ALA: New Tor delay on library ebooks hurts readers, authors and libraries
CHICAGO - At the beginning of July, Tor, a division of Macmillan, announced without warning that it was immediately beginning to embargo ebook sales of new titles to libraries for four months. Today American Library Association (ALA) President Loida...
Two PLA Conference programs, cancelled in Philadelphia, now offered as free webinars
CHICAGO -- The Public Library Association (PLA) announced today that the content from two educational programs originally scheduled for presentation at the PLA 2018 Conference will be offered as free webinars this month. The two programs -- Conflict as...