Digital Books in Libraries: Moving Towards a Sustainable & Equitable System of Access to Information
Over the past ten years, tensions have grown between libraries and the publishing industry as eBooks have become more popular and as eBook costs have risen. As library workers, we are motivated by the core mission of libraries to provide access to information, which is threatened by current licensing models. In this project, we assess the current practices and power imbalances in eBook licensing through interviews with 40 stakeholders. Our research suggests that legislation is one of many possible strategies to achieve a sustainable and equitable system of access to information for future generations.
Project sponsored by: Cindy Aden: Professor of Practice and Distinguished Practitioner in Residence University of Washington iSchool; Former Washington State Librarian
Project participants:
Megan Rosenfeld
MLIS Online
Erin Andreassi
MLIS