Carmi Parker's Update on the Macmillan Boycott

Carmi Parker, ILS Administrator for the Whatcom County Library System, reports as follows on the library boycott of Macmillan for its “windowing” of library e-books:

11 more library systems have stopped purchasing Macmillan eBooks, and the total population served by all the boycotting libraries is now over 32 million people, about 1/10th of the U.S. population. If the momentum continues, we will have a real financial impact to Macmillan’s bottom line! We are beginning to think about the possibility of an open letter in a widely-read newspaper to Macmillan from the libraries, summing up an estimated loss of revenue for them and asking (again) that they drop the embargo. Stay tuned for more on that idea.

This week’s update also includes feedback from OverDrive on the Washington Post article about eBook borrowing behavior, and more SC libraries take the bold step to purchase nothing from Macmillan in any format.

If you know of libraries or coworkers who would be interested in following these updates, they can sign up here.

Mr. John Sargent of Macmillan will be presenting at ALA midwinter. This report may give those attending thoughts for questions to ask.

Thanks for your advocacy, Carmi!