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Librarians urge e‑book licensing reforms; publishers warn of legal, market risks
Summary
Library directors said e‑book license pricing and time‑limited terms are straining municipal budgets, limiting access for disabled patrons, and harming acquisition of new authors; the American Association of Publishers opposed the bill citing constitutional and marketplace concerns.
Multiple library directors told the House Corporations Committee that current e‑book licensing arrangements — time‑limited licenses, steep per‑title prices and limited simultaneous checkouts — are unsustainable for municipal budgets and reduce public access.
Eileen Dyer (Rogers Free Library) and other library witnesses described steep price increases and recurring repurchases for popular titles, citing specific expenditures and holds that consume Ocean State Library system funds. "Our patrons must still use them on a one‑on‑one checkout at a time manner," one librarian said, arguing that time‑limited licenses are more expensive than perpetual print copies and disproportionately burden patrons with disabilities or limited transportation.
The Association of American Publishers opposed the measure, citing prior court rulings and constitutional concerns and arguing the bill is poorly drafted. Publishers' counsel noted earlier federal litigation in other states and warned that mandating pricing or licensing terms raises legal and policy issues.
Librarians urged technical fixes, noted Connecticut recently enacted a similar law with a trigger clause, and asked the committee to pursue negotiations with publishers and third‑party intermediaries managing library e‑materials. The committee held the bill for further study and requested additional stakeholder engagement.
