Harris County Public Library’s core mission is to offer the public the widest and deepest selection of information and entertainment options possible on a budget provided by the very same people we serve. Increasingly, our patrons demand digital media, namely eBooks and eAudiobooks. Publishing giant Macmillan recently announced a new digital media pricing plan for libraries that will seriously disrupt HCPL’s ability to fulfill that mission, and will limit your access to the information and entertainment resources you want and need.

Macmillan’s plan in a nutshell

Libraries will be allowed to purchase only one copy of Macmillan eBooks and eAudiobooks on publication day.*

Libraries will not be allowed to purchase any additional copies for 8 weeks.

After 8 weeks, any additional copies will be metered access, meaning when the item has been checked out a certain number of times, the library must purchase another license.

*Publishers treat eBooks and eAudiobooks like print books. Only one patron at a time can check out a digital copy.

Macmillan’s plan will, of course, most affect economically disadvantaged people and the smaller, less well-funded libraries that often serve them.

If you are worried, as Harris County Public Library is, about the long-term, adverse effects of Macmillan’s digital media pricing plan that is slated to begin November 1, 2019, we encourage you