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Libraries Press for State Guardrails on Ebook Licensing as Costs and Expirations Bite
Summary
Librarians and the State Library urged passage of HB6958, saying current ebook licensing (commonly 2‑year expirations or 26 lends) forces repeated repurchases and costs Connecticut libraries multiples of consumer prices; the State Library seeks contract‑law protections to restore negotiating power to libraries.
Librarians, consortia and the state librarian told the Planning and Development Committee that current ebook licensing terms are unsustainable for public libraries across Connecticut.
Deborah Shander, State Librarian, said the State Library has spent almost $100,000 this fiscal year on ebooks and projected nearly $200,000 by year end, while losing access to more than 1,000 titles (about 14% of its collection) when licenses expired. "I'm not here today asking to spend less. I'm asking to spend…
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