Library Organizations Call on Big Five Publishers to Revise Digital Pricing Models
On May 27, five public library organizations from the U.S. and Canada issued a statement urging the Big Five publishers to reconsider their e-book pricing models. The Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, Canadian Urban Libraries Council, Public Library Association, and Urban Libraries Council signed the letter. They advocate for usage-based e-book lending models and perpetual-use options, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions. The letter highlights the role of public libraries in promoting author discovery and literacy, while also pointing out the unsustainable costs of e-books for small libraries. This action is part of an ongoing debate between libraries and publishers over digital licensing, with libraries lobbying for legislative support at the state level. 
