If you’ve ever rented an audio or e-book from your local library, you may have waited in a long digital line for a copy or wondered why there aren’t just more digital editions available.
But providing digital options to readers comes at a steep cost to libraries. Librarians must balance trying to provide a full range of services without breaking the budget. In today’s political and economic environment, that can be a challenge.
The public library price tag
Providing digital copies of books to patrons can be difficult, with varying agreements and vendor — and patron — expectations.
Anne Mangano, collections services coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library, said the licensing agreements for libraries to provide e-books or audio books on the popular library app Libby are expensive.
“You may be able to get that copy on Amazon or Apple books for $12, $20. We’re paying $65, we’re paying $85, for audiobooks that can be $125 per copy. And we get those copies, sometimes for one year, sometimes for two years, sometimes for 24 checkouts, and then we have to repurchase it.”