The Issues:

• Most major publishers set library pricing as much as 10 times (and sometimes more!) the cost to consumers for ebooks. (Note that libraries often purchase print books at a discount from consumer prices - using taxpayer dollars to the fullest.)
• Most major publishers license ebooks to libraries that expire after one or two years, or a fixed number of checkouts, forcing libraries to repurchase ebooks at the same high prices each time, further inflating the actual costs for an individual ebook. 
• Repurchasing ebooks requires constant monitoring and an analysis of the best way to meet patron demand with increasingly expensive short-term licenses. This leads to an additional cost - the cost of staff labor to review expired licenses every week - diverting time and energy from other important services to library patrons.  
• Some publishers do not allow libraries to purchase licenses to some or all of their digital works.

→ RILA supports current proposed legislation (H7606 and S2525, see below) that requires reasonable pricing & terms for all licensed digital ebooks and audiobooks that are sold to libraries in Rhode Island.

REAL OCEAN STATE LIBRARIES EXAMPLES:

Today there are nearly 12,900 ebooks and audiobooks with active waitlists. At an average cost of $73 per ebook and $85 per audiobook, and with many licenses expiring after 1 or 2 years, these costs add up quickly! If we bought just one copy each of these in-demand titles, it would cost over $1 million just to meet the current demand from library users.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans currently has 834 audiobook holds and 731 ebook holds. We have already spent $3,745.50 on this single title. Most of those licenses will expire by the end of 2026. Even if no new holds are placed, we would need to spend another $2,300 just to meet existing demand — bringing the total to over $6,000 for one single, expiring book.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid currently has 336 audiobook holds. We have already spent $1,752.75 on this single title. Most of those licenses will expire by the end of 2026. Even if no new holds are placed, we would need to spend another $2,500 just to meet existing demand — bringing the total to over $4,250 for one single, expiring book.