Washington Post's Geoffrey Fowler on Amazon and Libraries

In “Want to borrow that e-book from the library? Sorry, Amazon won’t let you,” Geoffrey Fowler ranges far to investigate this important library (and reader!) issue. The piece is well-worth a read (disclosure: I’m quoted in it).

I’d like to add two updates.

The first is that the Maryland legislation requiring publishers that license ebooks and digital audiobooks to consumers also license to libraries under reasonable terms has now passed both House and Senate unanimously. A big thanks to Maryland legislators for their support of Maryland library readers!

Second, as noted previously on RF and elsewhere, and in the aryticle itself, Amazon and DPLA are in negotiations to provide “exclusive” content to libraries through the DPLA Exchange and SimplyE. My understanding is that these negotiations are ongoing and fruitful. Perhaps the negotiations will conclude successfully. If so, and if Amazon adopts some of DPLA’s licensing offerings, featuring multiple options at point of purchase, then Amazon will leapfrog from pariah over some other big publishers to become “Good Friend” of libraries and set a good example for other large publishers to follow. In libraries, at least, we won’t have Amazon to kick around anymore.

Perhaps I’m being too optimistic. But as effective action and vaccinations begin to push back the pandemic in places that are being responsible, hope is becoming somewhat easier. There would still be much to work on to make digital content truly effective and sustainable in libraries, but Amazon delivering would be a good step. It is much to hope for, but hope we in libraries may. Amazon, don’t go breaking our hearts!