An Interview with Sari Feldman

ALA Senior Policy Fellow Sari Feldman has spoken with IFLA about “E-Lending, Embargoes and Equitable Access.” She is, as usual, eloquent.

After explaining Macmillans’ new licensing model and Blackstone’s embargo and suggesting other Big 5 publisher’s don’t look likely to follow these two, Ms. Feldman sets out the impact of limiting access to library readers: “Limiting access to new titles for libraries means limiting access for readers most dependent on libraries, including people with the fewest resources to purchase new eBoooks on demand, people with disabilities, students and researchers needing easy access to review content from a variety of sources, and readers with limited access to library locations.”

She avers that no data supports Macmillan’s decision and points how the publishers is ignoring how libraries promote discovery of authors and reading. “Libraries are critical to building readership at a time when reading is on the decline in the US. Libraries promote literacy and reading for all ages. Readers are attracted to eBooks and if libraries cannot get the content in the quantity needed to satisfy readers, excessive wait time will suppress discovery and interest in eBooks.”

She continue by describing how libraries are essential in the e-book market ecosystem: “Libraries are critical to building and sustaining readership, creating discovery of new and mid-list authors, and providing equitable access to readers most dependent on libraries,” with librarians having a crucial role.

In a hopeful conclusion, Ms. Feldman adds that the “good will” between libraries and publishers will result in beneficial change, leading to “new business models” that balance the interests of authors, publishers, and libraries, creating growth in the e-book industry.

RF hopes Ms. Feldman’s optimism is justified. Reading as a pastime is in decline, while Amazon, hardly dependent upon readers, bulks up its already large amount of exclusive content. We have every reason to join forces to promote reading and increase access. Will the Big 5 choose to work with libraries or silo themselves for short-term increased profit but long-term ultimate decline in revenue and, alas, reading?