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 | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
eLibraryNJ | New Jersey | 70 | 2,660,000 |
Nevada County Community Library | Nevada County, CA | 6 | 100,000 |
San Antonio Public Library | San Antonio, TX | 31 | 1,532,000 |
Charleston County Public Library | Charleston County, SC | 19 | 406,000 |
Poudre River Public Library District | Fort Collins, CO | 3 | 192,000 |
White Plains Public Library | White Plains, NY | 1 | 60,000 |
Larchmont Public Library | Larchmont, NY | 1 | 17,000 |
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 Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
Luzerne County Library | Luzerne County, PA | 10 | 320,000 |
Alexandria Library | Alexandria, VA | 5 | 161,000 |
Sutter County Library | Sutter County, CA | 3 | 97,000 |
Sacramento Public Library | Sacramento, CA | 28 | 501,000 |
Omaha Public Library | Omaha, NE | 12 | 562,000 |
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 Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
Berks County Library System | Berks County, PA | 20 | 400,000 |
Yolo County Library | Yolo County, CA | 9 | 220,000 |
King County Library System | King County, WA | 50 | 1,500,000 |
Washington Digital Library Consortium | Washington | 21 | 820,000 |
Arkansas Digital Library Consortium | Arkansas | 34 | 3,014,000 |
Cedar Rapids Public Library | Cedar Rapids, IA | 2 | 132,000 |
Columbus Metropolitan Library (Digital Downloads Collaboration) | Columbus, OH | 18 | 893,000 |
Des Moines Public Library | Des Moines, IA | 6 | 218,000 |
Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium | New Jersey | 32 | 843,000 |
Nashville Public Library | Nashville, TN | 21 | 1,500,000 |
New Orleans Public Library | New Orleans, LA | 14 | 391,000 |
Somerset County Library System | Somerset, NJ | 12 | 330,000 |
Timberland Regional Library | Olympia, WA | 27 | 500,000 |
Wisconsin Public Library Consortium | Wisconsin | 22 | 5,814,000 |
Monroe County, NY | Rochester, NY | 33 | 744,344 |
Multnomah County Library | Portland, OR | 22 | 812,000 |
Bucks County Free Library | Bucks County, PA | 7 | 628,000 |
Chesterfield County Public Library | Chesterfield County, VA | 11 | 349,000 |
Estes Valley Library | Estes Park, CO | 1 | 12,000 |
Fairfax County Public Library, VA | Fairfax County, VA | 23 | 1,151,000 |
Houston Public Library | Houston, TX | 44 | 2,313,000 |
San Jose Public Library | San Jose, CA | 25 | 1,030,000 |
Public Libraries of Suffolk County | Suffolk County, NY | 55 | 1,481,000 |
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library | Topeka and Shawnee County, KS | 1 | 177,000 |
Virginia Beach Public Library | Virginia Beach, VA | 10 | 450,000 |
Napa Valley Unified School District | Napa, CA | n/a | 16,750 |