[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6157669,"mediaKeyId","5463444-d9456e59e0b32453bb2203b82985daf7","parentId",5463444,"title","Library leaders push for commission to tackle rising e‑book licensing costs and access limits","audioSeconds",3423,"startMs",251000,"endMs",3674000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5463444-d9456e59e0b32453bb2203b82985daf7&start=251&end=3674","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5463444-d9456e59e0b32453bb2203b82985daf7/thumbnail_251000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6157669/Massachusetts/Library-leaders-push-for-commission-to-tackle-rising-ebook-licensing-costs-and-access-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157669-8292bbbe67168a5805dc8859b33b57a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1776504290&Signature=QIc7SPIbBLKysZCJLz2v4W6LqlgJMR8z~VxdVAE49Qis1w7J9g-FS26kbEYH8EkxfUG457Ea~jmxinM2fcmQotlFYoz-jgjBEygMBIe1KfYF6-zwBUDXjtDAdu0pVO4Dck-xlLkYNAH5IOneORU91VEf-WaUqvjuZOV-t5OkYZTA-EtTelQMKwTrGTi3ZgfJ6en4CwVP12o6up1fwgZ4D9xQzicZjb97cGMsowVMQokmMnR929J664Y04afsMFj0HatbKWayNVe7vriO46UkCvlzeHqooUfzFynDgzv3hjbP5LYRXQDTvHtj~ZXPNIwUP8kViXtn1rP4bfPjYMfV7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","article","Library directors, networks and legal experts urged the legislature to study and reform how libraries buy e‑books and audiobooks, saying current licensing terms impose steep costs and narrow access.

Representative Brian Murray, testifying as a proponent of House Bill 3595, told the joint committee the bill would address contract terms that make digital collections expensive and restrictive for public libraries. \"Publishers require licenses for libraries to purchase these electronic materials,\" Murray said. \"These licenses are number one, very restrictive and number two, very expensive.\"

Several library network directors described the mismatch between consumer pricing and public‑library licensing. Catherine Lussier, executive director of the North of Boston Library Exchange, said: \"With physical books we are able to purchase books at a steep discount... With digital content we are required to rent our books at a price that is often five to six times the cost of what consumers pay, and those books often expire after a period of time or a number of checkouts.\" Lussier said Massachusetts libraries have spent more than $54,000,000 on digital content over the past seven years and reported average wait times of 79 days for popular titles in some networks.

Library directors also described service impacts. Lisa Downing, director of Forbes Library, said e‑books and audiobooks are essential accessibility tools for patrons with disabilities, homebound patrons, and students with learning differences; long waits and disappearing licenses reduce equitable access.

Legal and policy experts said a state commission would be a practical, lawful route to address the problem. Kyle K. Courtney, director of copyright and information policy at Harvard and founder of the Ebook Study Group, said Massachusetts can pursue market‑based, contract‑law solutions rather than challenging federal copyright: \"My strategies protect public institutions and taxpayer investment by not looking at copyright, by looking at contract law. That's why I strongly support this proposed commission.\" Courtney said the commission would include librarians, lawyers and publishers to build a durable plan.

David Leonard, president of the Boston Public Library, described the budgetary impact and recommended purchase options that preserve long‑term access and stewardship: \"This bill supports the work of libraries by ensuring we are able to purchase preservation copies, and not just rent copies for circulation that disappear maybe after two years or after 26 loans.\"

Students and patrons described real consequences. Rory Longren, a recent high‑school graduate with dyslexia, described dependence on audio and e‑formats and said long wait lists make it difficult to access required reading. \"Ebooks often expire before I can finish reading, and I have to place a hold and go back and win the hold queue again,\" he said.

Witnesses pointed to other states’ actions. David Leonard and Kyle Courtney referenced Connecticut and Rhode Island laws and procurement policies as models that give libraries more negotiation leverage and preserve taxpayer value. Asked about other models, Dan Novak from Penguin Random House noted Rhode Island’s recent statute as a helpful reference for procedural components that create enforceable rights for readers and librarians.

The bills under consideration would establish a special legislative commission to study licensing, procurement and possible statutory or contractual remedies, and to bring publishers and libraries to the table. Committee members asked clarifying questions about existing state efforts, federal funding trends, and how a commission's recommendations might be implemented. The hearing did not include a committee vote on the e‑book measures.

Proponents asked the committee to advance H3595 and S2330 as a first step to give libraries stronger leverage and better long‑term stewardship options for digital content.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development -- 7-22-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Librarians, library networks and publishers told the committee that current e‑book and e‑audiobook licensing models significantly limit public access and burden library budgets; sponsors urged creation of a legislative commission (H3595/S2330) to negotiate fair terms and preserve taxpayer value.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6157674,"Legislators, librarians and authors urge Massachusetts bill to protect the ‘right to read’ and shield staff from retaliation",12156,468000,12624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5463444-d9456e59e0b32453bb2203b82985daf7&start=468&end=12624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5463444-d9456e59e0b32453bb2203b82985daf7/thumbnail_468000.jpg","/articles/6157674/Massachusetts/Legislators-librarians-and-authors-urge-Massachusetts-bill-to-protect-the-right-to-read-and-shield-staff-from-retaliation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157674-8a70adb1a7cd3000d2394718aaaeb524/orig.mp4?Expires=1776504290&Signature=SVd4HZxEFU-AO4N8pjlpDah1BnRs9MqXWAomdn0wY3oQMK59gQA2tGFHoUZo4GgdzphNzNZyhYjFzTyOqvCD19mBFmxO9zlb6ajBV9dRQCzLl9A2Lr6VUK2Z5D02Q3484Ycdzy~sQoKfUeEeTKmSFvOF1XIkUv2Lyf8yN~6Zxa~LCnDtrRHWRsZJMphtHdud3PXeJOpPqGgVeNKG6cBZn7FtJuyKlNs39MbGkDLTonWJzEThQlodekmMrdIX~QQgbenltkmnBSFE-wMeZlTz2BV1oj-OjOk-1v5won-PgxImi8tmAm8q~ND2BL~whAmriIQhX2xiVoPoEScoZE-SFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State legislators, library directors, authors and civil‑rights groups told a legislative hearing that Massachusetts needs a law to protect readers and librarians from coordinated book‑challenge campaigns.

At a June hearing convened by Representative Sean Garberly, House chair, and Senator Paul Mark, Senate chair, proponents asked the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development to report favorably on bills filed this session, including House Bill 3594 and Senate Bill 2328, described by sponsors as “an act regarding free expression.”

Supporters said the bills would do three things: preserve access to a wide range of materials by requiring clear, educationally grounded selection and reconsideration policies; keep materials available while challenges are considered; and protect librarians and school staff from termination, licensing discipline or other retaliation for carrying out professional duties under adopted policy.

\"This bill does three key things,\" said Senator Julian Cyr, introducing the legislation and testifying from the South Yarmouth Library. \"It prevents book bans. It requires school and public libraries to maintain transparent, educationally grounded policies for selecting materials... and it prevents materials from being removed unless proven to lack value by clear and convincing evidence.\" His testimony noted the bill would also require annual reporting on challenges.

Authors and publishers told the committee that removals and threats are widespread and harm both creators and readers. \"When our books are banned, it is our voices that are silenced,\" author Melinda Lo testified. Dan Novak, vice president and associate general counsel for Penguin Random House, said state law is the right level for protection: \"Now is the time to do the same for the first amendment,\" Novak said, citing recent laws in other states as models.

Civil‑rights and library organizations described a sharp rise in challenges and related harassment. \"These are politically motivated, targeted attacks,\" said Eva de Charleroi of the ACLU of Massachusetts, citing patterns reported by the American Library Association and local press. Several witnesses cited ALA data and press reporting that Massachusetts saw dozens of challenges in recent years and that many challenges target books by or about LGBTQ people and people of color.

School librarians and library directors gave concrete accounts of challenges, doxxing, threats and canceled programming. Reba Tierney, president of the Massachusetts School Library Association, described a challenge at her high school that left students in tears and librarians demoralized. Andrea Furillo, co‑chair of the Massachusetts Library Association’s intellectual freedom committee, said harassment has pushed library workers from the profession: \"Our lives and livelihoods have been threatened,\" she said.

Speakers who are school librarians stressed that licensed professionals make acquisition decisions using training and established policies. \"Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined,\" Reba Tierney said, quoting scholar Rudine Sims Bishop to explain why school collections should include diverse voices.

Opponents told the committee they are concerned about age‑appropriate access and parental rights. Opposition testimony referenced explicit passages in some titles and argued local school committees should retain control over materials and complaint processes. The committee hearing included several opponents who called for narrow parental oversight rather than a statewide standard.

Committee members did not take votes on the bills during the hearing. The session included more than 60 registered testifiers; speakers urged the committee to move the bills forward so that districts would have a consistent framework to handle challenges and so library workers would have legal protections when they act in good faith under local policy.

Proponents and witnesses pointed to model language and recent state precedents elsewhere. Dan Novak highlighted Rhode Island’s law as a recent example that incorporates many of the components sponsors seek to bring to Massachusetts. Several witnesses said the legislation would not bar parents from deciding what their own children read, but would limit removal of materials for the entire school or public library absent a formal review.

The hearing closed without floor action on the measures; committee members encouraged written testimony in addition to in‑person remarks.

The bill sponsors and advocates left the committee with a tally of testimony and a request that lawmakers prioritize protections for readers, for librarians’ professional judgment, and for transparent processes when materials are challenged.","At a joint committee hearing, sponsors and dozens of authors, librarians and civil‑rights groups testified in favor of bills (including H3594 and S2328) that would set statewide standards for library selection, require transparent challenge procedures and protect library and school staff from retaliation when they follow policy.","actionData","errors"]

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Library leaders push for commission to tackle rising e‑book licensing costs and access limits

Legislators, librarians and authors urge Massachusetts bill to protect the ‘right to read’ and shield staff from retaliation