Following up on our October post about the new eight-week embargo on library e-books imposed by Macmillan….
The Charleston County Public Library in Charleston, SC, is leading the charge, as 60 percent of libraries across the country boycott Macmillan entirely, including twenty-two in South Carolina.
“We ask our patrons to be patient and understand that we are operating in their best interest,†CCPL Executive Director Angela Craig said. “We believe a short-lived inconvenience is worth a potential long-term gain. This embargo by Macmillan sets a dangerous precedent, which could result in influencing other publishers and we must take a stand now before it’s too late.â€
For the news story, including video of a Channel 5 WCSC report, click here.
A petition, #eBooksforAll, has been circulating, and has so far accumulated nearly 240,000 signatures.
Libraries feel the embargo, which allows them to only purchase one copy of an e-book in the first eight weeks after a book’s publication, is unfair to their patrons, extending wait times and hinderirng services. Libraries fear too that this embargo could set a precedent for the other “Big 5” publishers to follow suit.
A page on the Charleston County Public Library website does a great job of addressing the issues and includes FAQs.