Town of Pelham Library Joins Call for Macmillan Publishing to Cancel eBook Embargo

The Town of Pelham Public Library has joined with other libraries in Westchester and around the country in calling for a lifting of the embargo on eBooks placed by Macmillan Publishing that went into effect on November 1.  Under Macmillan’s new licensing model, libraries can only purchase one copy of a new title in eBook format for the first eight weeks after its publication date, a move that greatly restricts patrons’ access to the latest titles in electronic format. As the American Library Association President Wanda Brown has stated, “Macmillan Publishers’ new model for library eBook lending will make it difficult for libraries to fulfill our central mission: ensuring access to information for all. Macmillan’s new policy is unacceptable.”

Some libraries have responded by announcing that they will no longer purchase any books from Macmillan until the publisher removes the embargo from its licensing agreement. Patrons of libraries that are members of the Westchester Library System should be aware that availability of eBooks from Macmillan will be limited by the publisher’s embargo. Furthermore, availability of titles in all formats from Macmillan and its imprints will be impacted by any member libraries joining the boycott.

The Town of Pelham Public Library joins the American Library Association and the New York Library Association in calling upon Macmillan to cancel the embargo and enable all libraries to buy multiple copies of eBooks. You can add your signature to this call and learn more about the campaign by visiting ebooksforall.org or (if the petition form doesn’t pop up on your browser) https://p2a.co/fgcQkzV. A full copy of the statement from the Public Library Directors Association of Westchester is available here.