Sen. Andrew Zwicker of New Jersey has introduced a bill that, if passed, would not only stand alone as an important step towards fair library digital content terms but would also "trigger" the new Connecticut law.
Thank you, Sen. Zwicker!
Andrew Albanese has provided a discussion on Words&Money, including thoughts from Kyle Courtney, who has been instrumental in advising on ebook legislation in many states. For still more on Mr. Courtney's work, see eBook Study Group.
Albanese's piece is worth a full read (disclosure-I am quoted in it). He cites Courtney thusly:
"New Jersey has taken the bold step to say that libraries-and the public they serve-deserve access to digital books under terms that reflect the essential role libraries play in preservation, access, and education," Courtney told Words & Money. "It also safeguards interlibrary loan systems and allows for the creation of non-public preservation copies, ensuring that collections can be maintained without undue burden-or books simply 'disappearing' from the shelves."
He notes that this bill is more aggressive in some ways than the Connecticut law:
While the bill will likely be amended as it progresses-if it progresses-it is at first glance a more aggressive bill than the one that passed in Connecticut, making it likely to draw strong opposition from the major publishers.
For example, New Jersey's bill includes a provision that would bar New Jersey libraries from agreeing to prices "greater than that charged to the public for the same item."
That would be a massive change, if adopted. Typically, library new release ebooks from the major publishers can cost libraries $65 or more for a metered license. According to the plain text of New Jersey's bill, those prices would have to be closer to consumer prices, usually around $15, for libraries to license them.
Similar to Connecticut's law, the New Jersey bill would also forbid libraries from entering into licenses that restrict the number of lends over the course of a license agreement [that is, metered either by time-say, one or two years-or by number of circulations, such as 26] unless the publisher also offers a perpetual access option "at a price which is considered reasonable and equitable" by the parties.
As always, we owe thanks thank the many medium-sized to Indie publishers who already offer terms acceptable under the CT law and NJ bill. Expect opposition of some sort from the Big 5 publishers. Expect, too, legislative action from still other states. Library digital content is increasingly unsustainable for most smaller and even some larger libraries. Legislators on both sides of the aisle get it. The current Big 5 terms do not make for responsible use of taxpayer dollars when compared to what we pay for print.
Michael
Hi all, Sharing a post on the ReadersFirst site from Carmi Parker discussing a hot topic. What are your libraries doing about ebooks generated ... -posted to the "Core Ebooks Interest Group" community
| | eBooks, Collection Development Policies & AI | | | | | Hi all, Sharing a post on the ReadersFirst site from Carmi Parker discussing a hot topic. What are your libraries doing about ebooks generated from AI "Content Farms"? Do you have a policy All best, Michael eBooks, Collection Development Policies & AI May 30, 2025 As we know from Library Future's work on Hoopla, AI-generated work is making its way into library purchasing platforms and collections, prompting discussion at many libraries about how to respond. The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) based in Port Angeles, Washington has taken a lead, adapting its Collection Development Policy to address AI. Sarah Morrison, a NOLS librarian and digital book selector, shares the NOLS addition and the thought behind it in Alki, the Washington Library Association's journal. The article discusses: · The ethical question of author compensation with AI-generated content trained on pirated copies of authors' eBooks and eAudiobooks · Questions about the quality of AI without the authenticity and intentionality an author provides · The challenges of writing a policy given how new the technology is and how much it might change Is your library considering AI-generated or AI-narrated content in its Collection Development Policy or selection procedures? Let Readers First know if this is something you'd like us to explore more. Carmi Parker Thanks for the info! I enjoyed talking with the Ocean State folks at last week's Eastern Ebook Summit Meeting. Would you please consider sharing... | | Re: ALA Annual CEIG Meeting | | | | | Thanks for the info! I enjoyed talking with the Ocean State folks at last week's Eastern Ebook Summit Meeting. Would you please consider sharing your data at some point? We can arrange to post it on the RF site and to share here. I appreciate seeing use trends from all over.
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