Macmillan updates

View alphabetical list of libraries that have suspended purchasing

As of 11/22/2019

The number of participating libraries and consortia has been up and down this week as I have been confirming which have ceased purchasing eBooks. Currently, we are at 38. Below are the libraries I learned about this week.

Library or Consortium LocationLibraries or branches Population served
eLibraryNJNew Jersey702,660,000
Nevada County Community LibraryNevada County, CA6100,000
San Antonio Public LibrarySan Antonio, TX311,532,000
Charleston County Public LibraryCharleston County, SC19406,000
Poudre River Public Library DistrictFort Collins, CO3192,000
White Plains Public LibraryWhite Plains, NY160,000
Larchmont Public LibraryLarchmont, NY117,000

Many libraries may be wondering: now that the embargo has begun, what’s next? It seems clear that Macmillan is not willing to budge for now, but we are continuing to collaborate, gather data, and work toward solutions:

Libraries across the country continue to contribute to news stories. With every story, we signal to Macmillan and the other publishers that public libraries care deeply about these issues and will not let them blow over.

I particularly enjoyed this patron comment on a press release from Mid-Continent Public Library, a large system serving the Kansas City area:

Macmillan’s approach is ridiculous…I read my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book in March 2019 through the library. I loved it – Daisy Jones and the Six – so much, I bought it. Then I bought 5 more books by this author. Public Libraries expose me to new authors that I would otherwise not consider.

If you are interested in following the news coverage, Alan Inouye’s Twitter feed is a good source. If you use a search engine, I find Bing returns better results than Google News in this case, since the latter weighs local results heavily.

ALA is continuing its legislative advocacy with the House Judiciary Committee, working now with individual Congresspeople on the committee who have expressed interest in learning more from us. (If you have not read the report that ALA submitted to the committee, it is well worth the time.)

The L.A. Times has conducted a survey of library card usage in the L.A area. I have asked the reporters if they are willing to share the results since many of the questions relate to eBook consumption.

If you’re’ thinking about attending ALA Midwinter, insiders tell me that eBooks will be a hot topic this year.

No update next week since it’s a holiday.

As of 11/15/2019

We learned of five more library systems who have chosen not to purchase Macmillan eBooks. If you know of a system that is not listed, we are happy to add it. Just let us know here.

Library or ConsortiumLocationLibraries or branchesPopulation served
Luzerne County Library Luzerne County, PA10320,000
Alexandria LibraryAlexandria, VA5161,000
Sutter County LibrarySutter County, CA397,000
Sacramento Public LibrarySacramento, CA28501,000
Omaha Public LibraryOmaha, NE12562,000

Additionally, the embargo and boycotts continue to receive attention in the press, including a Library Journal article.

Many libraries are adding notification about the embargo to their OverDrive sites. Timberland Regional Library is using its notification space to explain publisher restrictions and educate patrons. They have received positive emails from patrons in response.

Here is Multnomah County Library’s version linking to its eloquent explanation from its director.

Other libraries use the space to point to #ebooksforall, which is now over 204,000 signatures. While the petition has been delivered to Macmillan, ALA would like library supporters to continue to sign. Adding it to your OverDrive site is a great way to do that. To have a message added, just contact your OverDrive account representative and let them know what you want it to say.

Finally, Kirkwood Library in Missouri made this cool infographic illustrating what happens to readers of embargoed books.

As of 11/8/2019

At the time of this posting, we know of 26 library systems or consortia who have chosen to not to purchase Macmillan eBooks.

Here is a Publishers Weekly editorial from King County Library System, Timberland Regional Library, and Washington Digital Library Consortium on why we choose to boycott.

Library or ConsortiumLocationLibraries or branchesPopulation served
Berks County Library SystemBerks County, PA20400,000
Yolo County LibraryYolo County, CA9220,000
King County Library SystemKing County, WA501,500,000
Washington Digital Library ConsortiumWashington21820,000
Arkansas Digital Library ConsortiumArkansas343,014,000
Cedar Rapids Public LibraryCedar Rapids, IA2132,000
Columbus Metropolitan Library (Digital Downloads Collaboration)Columbus, OH18893,000
Des Moines Public LibraryDes Moines, IA6218,000
Libraries of Middlesex Automation ConsortiumNew Jersey32843,000
Nashville Public LibraryNashville, TN211,500,000
New Orleans Public LibraryNew Orleans, LA14391,000
Somerset County Library SystemSomerset, NJ12330,000
Timberland Regional LibraryOlympia, WA27500,000
Wisconsin Public Library ConsortiumWisconsin225,814,000
Monroe County, NYRochester, NY33744,344
Multnomah County LibraryPortland, OR22812,000
Bucks County Free LibraryBucks County, PA 7628,000
Chesterfield County Public LibraryChesterfield County, VA11349,000
Estes Valley LibraryEstes Park, CO112,000
Fairfax County Public Library, VAFairfax County, VA231,151,000
Houston Public Library Houston, TX442,313,000
San Jose Public LibrarySan Jose, CA251,030,000
Public Libraries of Suffolk CountySuffolk County, NY551,481,000
Topeka and Shawnee County Public LibraryTopeka and Shawnee County, KS1177,000
Virginia Beach Public LibraryVirginia Beach, VA10450,000
Napa Valley Unified School DistrictNapa, CAn/a16,750