Human Services committee advances bill to limit restrictive e-book licensing for DC Public Library

Chair Matt Fruman, Ward 3 councilmember and chair of the Committee of Human Service, moved the committee print and report for B26-490, the Library Ebook Licensing Fairness Amendment Act of 2026, and the committee approved the motion.

Fruman said the bill would "prohibit renewals of licensing agreements that drive up costs and wait times," arguing that publishers currently charge libraries "between 3 to 5 times more for ebook and audiobook licenses than they do for physical books" and place limits on how often and how long libraries may lend digital titles. He told the committee these practices force the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) to buy fewer items for more taxpayer dollars and lead to weeks or months-long waits for popular titles.

The committee print includes an amendment that Fruman said gives DCPL more flexibility on pricing provisions while keeping the bill focused on so-called unfair licensing terms. The legislation contains a conditional effective-date provision: it would take effect only after at least 10 other jurisdictions with a combined population of at least 50,000,000 enact similar laws, a change Fruman said is intended to limit market isolation and legal risk.

Fruman thanked DCPL Director Richard Reyes Gabilan and DCPL staff and said advocacy groups including the American Libraries Association, Urban Libraries Council, the Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild took part in discussions on the draft. The committee voted "aye" and, in the chair's opinion, the ayes carried the motion; the bill will be reported to the full Council for further consideration.