The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has joined its parent organisation in denouncing Macmillan Publishers’ new library eBook lending model. Under the new model, scheduled to take effect November 1, a library may purchase only a single copy of each new title in eBook format upon release, after which Macmillan will impose an eight-week embargo on additional copies of that title sold to libraries. The new Macmillan eBook lending model expands upon an existing policy that took effect in July 2018, when the company, without warning, issued a four-month embargo applying solely to titles from its Tor imprint.
PLA’s new Strategic Plan, released in 2018, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Through it, PLA vowed to advocate for enabling every member, library and community group to fully and equally participate in society.
PLA believes Macmillan’s new eBook lending policy will limit access to new titles by the patrons who depend upon libraries most, and that access to eBooks through public libraries should not be denied or delayed.
Until the policy is changed and the embargo cancelled, PLA and ALA will explore all possible avenues to ensure that libraries can do the jobs of providing access to information for all, without arbitrary limitations that undermine libraries’ ability to serve our communities. PLA members are encouraged to visit ALA’s eBook lending action page for information and graphics to share on social media. PLA also calls on the library community and library patrons to contact Macmillan Publishers to express their objection to the company’s new policy, using the contact information below.
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