Julie, digital services staff, gave the commission a primer on library digital resources and the financial and operational choices libraries face when buying ebooks, audiobooks and streaming content.

Julie explained two broad seller models: pay‑per‑use services (examples: Hoopla, Canopy) where the library funds a deposit account and the library pays each checkout; and licensed digital collections (examples: OverDrive/Libby and consortium purchasing) where libraries purchase licenses that may be single‑user, metered by time or checkouts, or simultaneous‑use deals for a fixed period. “Pay per use is instant access. You do not have to wait on hold,” she said, while noting the per‑checkout cost makes unfettered use expensive.

She provided usage and price context from the Beehive Library Consortium and the OverDrive marketplace: the library uses about 34,000–38,000 OverDrive items per month; the consortium circulated more than 7 million digital items last year. Julie explained typical publisher pricing for digital titles can be multiples of consumer prices and cited example prices discussed during the meeting: a 24‑month license at $64.99 for an ebook, $97.99 for an audiobook, and occasional titles priced above $120. “If we used on Hoopla what we use every month on OverDrive... it would cost me $70,000 per month,” she said, underscoring the pay‑per‑use cost exposure.

Julie said publishers set license type and price in most cases; libraries often cannot choose more favorable license models. She described library control options to manage demand — caps on monthly borrows, limiting ticketed services, or prioritizing purchases for titles with broad interest — and urged patron education about costs and tradeoffs. Commissioners raised whether libraries could prioritize vulnerable patrons for digital access; staff said they will consider controls and metrics and asked the commission to weigh in before upcoming consortium and state library decisions in September and December.

Julie noted legal and market context: several states have pursued legal action against publishers for pricing practices but have had limited success; state funding (IMLS block grants) and consortium decisions could materially affect library buying power. Staff asked commissioners to help form a community‑facing strategy that balances digital demand, fiscal constraints and access for underserved patrons.