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Medfield library director says ebook vendor pricing strains budgets; points to legislation
Summary
Pam Gardner told the Medfield Musings program that publishers and ebook vendors have markups that make library ebook purchases more expensive than consumer purchases and noted current legislation aims to address the issue.
Pamela Gardner told the interview that the library’s costs for ebooks and e‑audio are often higher for libraries than what consumers pay at retail, because publishers and ebook vendors charge specialized licensing or markups. "The library, we have a markup, the publishers and the ebook vendors," Gardner said, adding that "there is current legislation to make sure that that doesn't happen."
Gardner explained the library did not initially plan long‑term ebook budgets when the format was new and that libraries have buying power they could use collectively to press vendors and publishers on pricing. She framed the issue as an affordability and procurement challenge rather than a local operational choice.
