Public libraries have been accommodating the changes to modern media, providing access to digital resources, implementing an information technology department and allowing library patrons to check out ebooks.

E-books have proved to be a convenient way to read that gives readers more of an opportunity to partake in a book even when they don’t have access to the physical version of a book.

The current agreement between publishers and public libraries is that ebook publishers can limit the use of individual publications for a maximum of two years, or 26 borrows. The ebooks can only be checked out from the individual libraries that borrowed them, meaning neighboring libraries cannot exchange ebooks with each other as they could with physical books (for example, inter-library loans). Over the years, librarians have railed against this agreement because of the inconvenience on the part of the patrons and the expense to the libraries.

There are several bills that Connecticut librarians are supporting this legislative session that seek to lower the limitations of the licenses that publishers sell. This is in relation to the contract between libraries and publishers that will take effect July 1, 2026. The proposed bill, was introduced on Feb. 24, said libraries will not participate in contracts with publishers that:
“Prohibits the library from loaning any electronic literary material, including through any interlibrary loan system;
“Restricts the number of times the library may loan any electronic literary material over the course of the license agreement if such agreement also restricts the library’s loan period for electronic literary material;
“Limits the number of electronic literary material licenses the library may purchase on the same date such electronic literary material is made available for purchase by the public;
“Prohibits the library from making nonpublic preservation copies of any electronic literary material;
“Restricts the library from disclosing the terms of the contract or license agreement to any other library in the state;
“Restricts the duration of the contract or license agreement unless the library also has the option of a contract or license agreement on commercially reasonable terms in consideration of the library’s mission, that either (A) is based on a pay-per-use model, or (B) provides for the perpetual public use of the electronic literary material.”
The university’s Library Leader, Lauren Slingluff, raised concerns about the bill’s prospects and said, “It’s hard to know what will go through. There’s a very strong lobby against bills like this because the current pricing structure and e-book options are very advantageous for publishers. But I hope this will be different because there has been a lot more awareness… ultimately, it comes down to consumer rights… I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Regarding the change within the publishing industry and library-publisher relations, she said, “Ownership has decreased… you are often paying for access on a streaming platform rather than owning something in perpetuity. So the move to digital… has changed how we own and access things, and when it comes to e-books there are two primary models which are individual consumers where they’re kind of pricing to what the market will bear and if ebooks get too pricey… consumers will switch back to physical books and the market will adjust… When we’re talking about institutional access, it’s more advantageous for publishers [to stay the same].”

Slingluff said libraries buy what they think their patrons will want to read and university library patrons are different from public libraries.

“In university libraries, we’ll purchase based on the classes students are taking and the research they’re doing. In public libraries, it’s based on what people are reading, such as bestsellers and popular fiction, and they often have to provide many different formats such as large print, e-book, and audiobook,” said Slingluff. “But all libraries just want to invest our dollars in the best way for the patrons.”

Currently, the bill is still on the legislative floor.