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Harford library head urges readers to protest in e-books dispute

Harford County Public Library Director Mary Haslter is urging readers to protest the recent decision by publishers to limit the availability of new titles to libraries in the e-book format.
Harford County Public Library Director Mary Haslter is urging readers to protest the recent decision by publishers to limit the availability of new titles to libraries in the e-book format. (Photo by Bobby Parker, Homestead Publishing)

Harford County Public Library Director Mary Hastler is urging the library's eBook readers to write, phone or e-mail major publishing firms to protest the publishers' recent decisions to end their relationships with an e-book distributor used by public libraries, including Harford's.

Hastler sent a letter to the library's 160,000 registered borrowers via e-mail Saturday morning briefly discussing the effects of the expected reduction new e-book titles from major publishers, while also pointing out many e-book titles will continue to be available to Harford library patrons.

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"Harford County Public Library customers are savvy readers and demand for books in eBook format has increased dramatically over the past year," Hastler wrote. "It is discouraging that publishers are refusing to sell eBooks to public libraries, but we remain hopeful that they are committed to finding a workable solution so that eBooks are available to our customers."

"In spite of the restrictions placed by the big six publishers, Harford County Public Library continues to provide access to an array of eBooks and eAudiobooks through Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium and Recorded Books OneClickdigital through its website at HCPLonline.org the letter continues, listing e-mail addresses for the publishers involved in the dispute.

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Earlier this month, Penguin became the latest of the so-called Big 6 book publishers to end its relationship with the digital book distributor OverDrive, leaving only Random House among the six that still distributes e-books through OverDrive. according to an articles posted on paidContent.org a website that follows economic issues involving digital content production and distribution.

Print publishers have been concerned that the migration of public library users to e-books will lessen sales of both print and digital, according to the paidContent.org article written by Laura Hazard Owen.

The Owen article said it is likely popular e-book titles currently available through OverDrive will remain available to library patrons, while new titles may not be circulated until the dispute with the publishers is resolved.

Harford's library system circulated 4.8 million books and other materials in all formats last year, according to the library's website, which does not contain separate statistics for e-book circulation.

Nationally, OverDrive reported its e-book checkouts from public libraries increased to 35 million in 2011, up 133 percent from 15 million in 2010, according to paidContent.org.

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