As of 3/17/2020
Macmillan announced today that it is dropping the embargo and will restore the terms of sale that were in place as of October 31, 2019.
As of 3/13/2020
Three more libraries this week:
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| Corvallis Benton County Public Library | Benton County, OR | 4 | 92,000 |
| Wayland Free Public Library | Wayland, MA | 1 | 14,000 |
| Robbins and Fox Libraries | Arlington, MA | 2 | 44,000 |
Also, ALA published an article today in American Libraries with its position on the new models proposed by Macmillan: ALA does not favorably recommend any of the models. It also points to the existing models under which we do business with other publishers. Finally, it describes the legislative advocacy efforts it has been pursuing, and states that new digital advocacy efforts will begin later this spring.
Several libraries responded to the cost analysis of Macmillan’s new models and wisely flagged costs that the analysis does not overtly include: the time it would require selectors to maintain their collections under such models:
“… we’ll be constantly having to monitor/analyze usage, cost, and all the other variables. Not many libraries have the resources to perform this analysis on an ongoing basis.”
It seems that Macmillan is hoping to make some decisions about how to go forward by the end of the month, but libraries across the continent may have little mind-space for a recalcitrant publisher given the need to respond to COVID-19.
As of 3/6/2020
Macmillan submitted proposals for three new eLending models to select libraries this week. None include embargoes but all mean significant price increases. To understand how much, I analyzed five Macmillan titles that the Washington Digital Library Consortium purchased around this time last year and applied the models to them to see what similar books would cost us in the future under these terms. A summary is below, with a detailed report here.
| Title | Actual | Prop. #1 | % inc. | Prop. #2 (low) | % inc. | Prop. #2 (high) | % inc. | Prop. #3 | % inc. |
| Black and Blue | $120.00 | $160.00 | 33% | $370.74 | 209% | $715.24 | 496% | $400.00 | 233% |
| The First Conspiracy | $120.00 | $240.00 | 100% | $374.63 | 212% | $674.63 | 462% | $520.00 | 333% |
| King of Scars | $160.00 | $320.00 | 100% | $468.53 | 193% | $937.53 | 486% | $710.00 | 344% |
| The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise | $160.00 | $260.00 | 63% | $391.61 | 145% | $666.01 | 316% | $490.00 | 206% |
| The Silent Patient | $680.00 | $1,340.00 | 97% | $3,305.84 | 386% | $4,489.70 | 560% | $2,710.00 | 299% |
| Average % increase | 79% | 229% | 464% | 283% |
The new models got attention in Publishers Weekly today, including a link to information about the boycotting libraries, and a comment from me, calling for real collaboration in the future.
As of 2/28/2020
Rumors are circulating this week that Macmillan will be proposing new eBook purchasing models in March, perhaps as soon as next week. We will share details as we learn them, as well as information about how various libraries and consortia on our list plan to respond.
The State of New York is considering NY Senate Bill S7578, which would require that publishers sell eBooks to libraries without limitation on the number of licences a library can purchase. The document is very brief and worth reading and perhaps sharing with your own state legislators. It states:
Any publisher who offers to license electronic books to the public shall offer to license such books to libraries in the state on reasonable terms that would permit the libraries to provide their users with access to such electronic books.
The Panorama Project has issued its 2019 Annual Report, which includes information about two 2020 initiatives attempting to quantify the value of public libraries in the reading ecosystem: an immersive reading and consumer survey to be conducted with Portland State University, and a library marketing valuation toolkit.
As of 2/21/2020
We learned of several new libraries this week, including one statewide consortium:
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or Branches | Population served |
| Plumas County Library | Plumas County, CA | 4 | 18,800 |
| Newton Free Library | Newton, MA | 1 | 88,900 |
| Ocean State Libraries | Rhode Island | 49 | 1,057,000 |
Note: this week and last week, we also heard from two libraries who have suspended purchases but asked not to be listed in association with the term “boycott.” Their locations and service area populations are included in our totals.
Update to financial impact analysis:
You may recall that in January, we published a financial impact analysis measuring how close we are to a tipping point where Macmillan begins to lose money on the embargo strategy.
We believe we have now reached and passed that point. The theory was this: if 10% of libraries suspend their purchases of Macmillan eBooks, it will “zero out” any new revenue that the embargo generates from libraries conducting business-as-usual.
In the 2017 IMLS Public Libraries survey, 7162 libraries recorded spending on electronic materials. As of this week, 889 of those libraries have suspended their Macmillan eBook purchases, for a total of 12.4%. What’s more, these libraries represent 14% of the $374 million total spent on electronic resources.
In other words, we believe the embargo strategy is now a losing proposition.
As of 2/14/2020
We learned this week of four more libraries that have ceased to purchase Macmillan eBooks.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or Branches | Population served |
| Schertz Public Library | Schertz, TX | 1 | 41,000 |
| Pleasanton Public Library | Pleasanton, TX | 1 | 10,800 |
| Butte County Library | Butte County, CA | 6 | 229,200 |
| Benicia Public Library | Benicia, CA | 1 | 28,300 |
In other news:
ALA Senior Director of Public Policy Alan Inuoye had a strong op-ed in The Hill this week calling for legislative solutions to eBook access inequities.
Good eReader published a letter that OverDrive CEO Steve Potash sent to libraries in response to OverDrive’s acquisition by KKR, a private equity firm. Regarding embargoes, Potash said:
We strongly oppose any embargo or limitation on an institution’s right to acquire every digital title published under fair terms. We advocate with authors, agents, and publishers that their economic interests are best served when their works are easily discovered and available to borrow from every library in every format.
Potash did come out strongly against the embargo in his personal blog, but this is the first time (as far as I know) that he has spoken on the topic on behalf of the company.
As of 2/7/2020
Again, no new libraries this week, but Google Analytics shows that traffic to the Macmillan-related pages on this site has increased in the last week in comparison to the two weeks prior, so the buzz continues. Thank you for sharing the information with your colleagues!
- Last week, we speculated that Macmillan might exchange the embargo for increased prices. In response, we heard back from two people who are close to the talks with Macmillan. They agreed that there is a good possibility that Macmillan will drop the embargo but impose a significant price increase instead.
- Legislative advocacy continued this week as the Rhode Island Library Association hosted Congressman David Cicilline for a round table on the topic of eBook access. Mr. Cicilline said, “As the Chairman of the House Antitrust Subcommittee leading a bipartisan investigation into the state of competition in the digital marketplace, I’m particularly interested in potentially anticompetitive practices harming libraries”. The round table follows on the excellent report that ALA presented to the House Judiciary Committee last October.
- New OverDrive Marketplace features make it easier to filter out items by publisher, so we added a doc to the toolkit to walk selectors through how they work.
As of 1/31/2020
We did not learn of any libraries to add to our list, but it was an exciting week nonetheless. Here is a news round-up:
- ALA released it’s response to John Sargent’s presentation at ALAMW before the presentation was even complete (!), an effective way of showing as well as telling the depth of its frustration with the company.
- The same day, Texas State Library and Archives Director Mark D. Smith published his thoughtful take on the meeting. The paragraph on library leverage is especially interesting.
- Publishers Weekly and InfoToday.com both published detailed articles, which are worth reading for their different perspectives.
- Finally, in an resounding announcement, Digital Book World banned Macmillan from attending its annual conference until it drops the embargo.
As of 1/24/2020
We learned of five systems this week that stopped purchasing as of Nov 1.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| City of Calabasas Library | Calabasas, CA | 1 | 24,000 |
| Pamunkey Regional Library | Central VA | 10 | 154,000 |
| Blue Ridge Download Consortium | Northwest VA | 16 | 414,000 |
| Richmond Public Library | Richmond, VA | 9 | 229,000 |
| Newport News Public Library | Newport News, VA | 5 | 179,000 |
Impact analysis: Our detailed boycott impact analysis received 438 page views in the last week, and we have received positive feedback from several libraries. The shorter version that we published on ReadersFirst was picked up by InfoToday.com as well as a blog/bargain eBook site called The Fussy Librarian.
Reader behavior: For those interested in data on how people like to read, how they choose what to read, where they go for books, how they use the library, and much more, the Library Journal summary of their generational reading survey is highly recommended.
Amazon’s influence: If you are generally interested in how Amazon is changing traditional publishing, take a look at this article in The New Republic, “Can Amazon Finally Crack the Bestseller Code?” It references a WSJ article that is also worth reading, “Amazon Publishes Books by Top Authors, and Rivals Fret.” (If you hit a WSJ paywall like me, you can dust off your database searching chops and read it in Proquest.)
As of 1/17/2019
Two new systems this week, bringing the total to 79.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| Anoka County Library | Anoka County, MN | 8 | 340,000 |
| Merrimack Valley Library Consortium | Northern MA | 36 | 779,000 |
Is the boycott working?
We published a brief analysis of the boycott impact so far on ReadersFirst, and it was quoted in the Publishers Weekly “This Week in Libraries” column. In short, we believe we are close to the “tipping point” where Macmillan’s anticipated revenue from the embargo flattens and begins to fall.
The brief is intended for general consumption. We also have an in-depth analysis targeted to libraries, including:
- Financial impact on Macmillan
- Impact on circulation
- Responses from patrons
- Other FAQs
Those with questions about this analysis are welcome to ask them here.
As of 1/10/2019
We learned of three new library systems in the last few weeks, bringing our total to 77. We are closing in on a service area population of 48 million, which is equivalent to the combined populations of California and New York City.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| First Regional Library | Five counties in NW Mississippi, including suburbs of Memphis | 14 | 300,000 |
| Dedham Public Library | Dedham, MA | 2 | 25,000 |
| Oakland Public Library | Oakland, CA | 16 | 429,000 |
New flavor of boycott: Oakland’s boycott is “limited” to only the single discount copy (no full price added copies) and will be in effect only through May.
eBook reader survey results: Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock, WA, has published the results of it’s survey on eBook reader behavior. The survey had 891 responses and includes information such as:
- Whether readers usually begin their experience by browsing lists or searching for a specific author or title
- How often readers use the “Currently Available” filter
- Tolerance for various hold waiting periods
- What readers do after choosing not to place a hold (Buy the book? Find another eBook to read? Place a hold on the print format?)
Troubling take on legislative solutions: If you did not get a chance to read this article from WGBH Boston, it includes analysis from a Harvard antitrust expert suggesting that maybe libraries are being “undercharged” for eBooks. This thinking only works if you accept the premise that publishers should be compensated at full price for every eBook “read.” Even publishers don’t believe that anymore — if they did, they wouldn’t have decided to go into eLending at all. Still, it’s good for us to be aware of the argument, especially if we are working on legislative advocacy.
As of 12/20/2019
Ten more systems came to our attention this week, so there are now 74 library systems and consortia suspending the purchase Macmillan’ eBooks. These represent 1,144 library locations in 26 states, and serve over 46 million U.S. residents, approximately 14% of the total population.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| Connecticut State Library | Hartford, CT | n/a | 3,537,000 |
| South Carolina State Library | Columbia, SC | n/a | 5,084,000 |
| Handley Regional Library System | Winchester, VA | 3 | 131,000 |
| Chesapeake Public Library | Chesapeake, VA | 7 | 250,000 |
| James L. Hamner Public Library | Amelia County, VA | 1 | 12,900 |
| Massanutten Regional Library | City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham and Page Counties, VA | 7 | 158,000 |
| San Diego Public Library | San Diego, CA | 36 | 1,426,000 |
| Santa Cruz Public Libraries | Santa Cruz, CA | 10 | 214,000 |
| The Public Library of Brookline | Brookline, MA | 3 | 59,000 |
| North Carolina Digital Library | NC | 23 | 3,368,000 |
#eBooksforall update: As you may know, several library luminaries put together a webinar with the latest on the #eBooksforall campaign. Here is the recording. It’s almost an hour long, but worth watching. Three items of special note:
- Lisa Rosenblum, Director of King County Library System, one of the first to boycott, speaks about her library’s rationale for ceasing purchases. She also points out that while we would never have chosen the embargo, the news coverage has given us a chance to show tens of millions of people, many who do not use the library, how hard we work to advocate for our reading communities and use public funds wisely.
- Hallie Rich, Director of Communications & External Relations at Cuyahoga County (OH) Public Library, presents on a project to put dollar amounts on how much their author event social media posts, direct emails, etc. would be worth if the publishers were buying them as advertising. You can reproduce this at your own library using the spreadsheet shared on the webinar site. (Her presentation starts around the 33 minute mark.)
- Ramiro Salazar, President of PLA and Director of San Antonio Public Library, says in the Q&A that PLA has requested the data that Macmillan cites showing that libraries cannibalize sales, and that John Sargent has agreed to deliver it.
Note: the webinar host mentions that ALA and PLA representatives are unable to discuss the boycott because of their tax status. I respect that necessity, and know that several libraries are likewise uncomfortable with the term. I considered removing it from the site, but decided to keep it because “boycott” is the Google search term most likely to be used by interested journalists, authors, library staff, and publishers who want information.
Data from Indianapolis: Indianapolis Public Library was one of the top 30 libraries by eSpending in 2017. It details some of the trends it has seen in the last several years in this article in the Indiana Business Journal, with illustrative charts.
Indianapolis Public Library is responding to publisher restrictions by adjusting “its default lending period for e-books and e-audiobooks, from 21 days to 14 days, and it’s lowered the limits on how many e-materials patrons can check out and put on hold.”
Note: my consortium considered changing our checkout maximum to 14 days, but found that almost half of our patrons manually switch from the 14 day default to 21.
Embargoed Tor titles: where are they now? In an effort to understand better the impact of embargoes, several libraries in U.S. and Canada are contributing data to an analysis of Tor purchases and circulation before and after the 2018 “experiment”. Stay tuned for results in early – mid January, and many thanks to our cheerful contributors thus far:
- eLibraryNJ
- Maryland’s Digital Library
- Sacramento Public Library
- San Antonio Public Library
- Seattle Public Library
- Toronto Public Library
- Washington Digital Library Consortium
As of 12/13/2019
We learned this week about 10 more systems or consortia that are not purchasing Macmillan:
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| State Library of Kansas | KS | n/a | 2,910,000 |
| Florence County Library System | Florence County, SC | 6 | 138,000 |
| Colleton County Memorial Library | Colleton County, SC | 2 | 39,000 |
| Bergen County Cooperative Library System | Northern NJ | 77 | 1,300,000 |
| York County Library | York County, SC | 5 | 274,000 |
| Oconee County Public Library | Oconee County, SC | 4 | 78,000 |
| Greenwich Library | Greenwich, CT | 3 | 63,000 |
| Cranston Public Library | Cranston, RI | 6 | 82,000 |
| Marion County Library System | Marion County, SC | 3 | 31,000 |
| Horry County Library System | Horry County, SC | 10 | 344,000 |
New information on the charge that eLending cannabalizes sales: The LA Times published a fascinating article about eReading behavior in California where residents can use multiple library cards. Readers who were surveyed indicate that they are not buying fewer books; they are simply reading more.
“Rather than undermining sales, readers said, borrowing brought literature into their digital diets, displacing podcasts and Instagram with new authors and genres they otherwise never would have picked up. For some card collectors, rediscovering the library through e-borrowing has been so profound that it feels almost spiritual.”
This video says it all: Charleston County Public Library in South Carolina published a video that explains the Macmillan embargo in terms all ages will understand: cupcakes.
Cranston Public Library is the first from Rhode Island to join and is taking an extra step in their physical locations, stating that they are “not promoting or displaying any Macmillan titles to our patrons.”
Video update on #ebooksforall: You may have seen that PLA is hosting a webinar on Tuesday that will update everyone on the #ebooksforall campaign, as well as the legislative advocacy that ALA is doing. The webinar is full, but I will get a link to the recording and share it here next week.
As of 12/6/2019
We have confirmed a total of 45 library systems who are not purchasing Macmillan eBooks far, and we expect more next week. If you know of a library that is not listed, please let us know. Over the last two weeks, we confirmed:
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| WVREADS consortium | WV | 27 | 697,000 |
| Georgetown County Public Library | Georgetown County, SC | 4 | 62,000 |
| Kentucky Libraries Unbound consortium | KY | 105 | TBD |
| Utah’s Online Library | UT | 69 | 1,480,000 |
| North Dakota State Library | Bismarck, ND | n/a | 250,000 |
| Anderson County Library System | Anderson County, SC | 8 | 200,400 |
| Lexington County Public Library System | Lexington County, SC | 10 | 295,000 |
| Oconee County Public Library | Oconee County, SC | 4 | 78,000 |
| Greenwood County Library System | Greenwood County, SC | 3 | 71,000 |
| Connecticut State Library | Hartford, CT | n/a | TBD |
| North Dakota Digital Consortium | ND | 42 | TBD |
Total population impact: Several people have asked about the total population served. It is hard to measure, because I don’t have the service area population for several large consortia, but the numbers we have currently total ~32 million people. That’s more than the total population of Texas (the second most populous state in the US after California)!
South Carolina doubles down: There are several new South Carolina libraries who have, like Charleston County Public Library, decided not to buy any Macmillan titles in any format for 12 weeks. I have asked the librarians to keep me posted on the patron response so that we can all learn from this impressive protest.
Washington Post article: You may have seen this article on library eBooks in the Washington Post; it is worth a read. I asked my OverDrive rep about the super-users with lots of library cards, since I believe that this phenomenon is something that Macmillan cited as an issue in its letter to authors. Our rep said he believes “the examples of ‘hacking’ are rare and not at all the norm even for avid readers.” My own consortium does not lend eBooks to reciprocal borrower accounts because of the expense. The LA Times survey I mentioned in the last post is also an attempt to understand this multi-card borrowing behavior. Those reporters are exploring whether they can share their survey data with us. If yes, I will add it to a future post.
As of 11/22/2019
The number of participating libraries and consortia has been up and down this week as I have been confirming which have ceased purchasing eBooks. Currently, we are at 38. Below are the libraries I learned about this week.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| eLibraryNJ | New Jersey | 70 | 2,660,000 |
| Nevada County Community Library | Nevada County, CA | 6 | 100,000 |
| San Antonio Public Library | San Antonio, TX | 31 | 1,532,000 |
| Charleston County Public Library | Charleston County, SC | 19 | 406,000 |
| Poudre River Public Library District | Fort Collins, CO | 3 | 192,000 |
| White Plains Public Library | White Plains, NY | 1 | 60,000 |
| Larchmont Public Library | Larchmont, NY | 1 | 17,000 |
Many libraries may be wondering: now that the embargo has begun, what’s next? It seems clear that Macmillan is not willing to budge for now, but we are continuing to collaborate, gather data, and work toward solutions:
Libraries across the country continue to contribute to news stories. With every story, we signal to Macmillan and the other publishers that public libraries care deeply about these issues and will not let them blow over.
I particularly enjoyed this patron comment on a press release from Mid-Continent Public Library, a large system serving the Kansas City area:
Macmillan’s approach is ridiculous…I read my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book in March 2019 through the library. I loved it – Daisy Jones and the Six – so much, I bought it. Then I bought 5 more books by this author. Public Libraries expose me to new authors that I would otherwise not consider.
If you are interested in following the news coverage, Alan Inouye’s Twitter feed is a good source. If you use a search engine, I find Bing returns better results than Google News in this case, since the latter weighs local results heavily.
ALA is continuing its legislative advocacy with the House Judiciary Committee, working now with individual Congresspeople on the committee who have expressed interest in learning more from us. (If you have not read the report that ALA submitted to the committee, it is well worth the time.)
The L.A. Times has conducted a survey of library card usage in the L.A area. I have asked the reporters if they are willing to share the results since many of the questions relate to eBook consumption.
If you’re’ thinking about attending ALA Midwinter, insiders tell me that eBooks will be a hot topic this year.
No update next week since it’s a holiday.
As of 11/15/2019
We learned of five more library systems who have chosen not to purchase Macmillan eBooks. If you know of a system that is not listed, we are happy to add it. Just let us know here.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| Luzerne County Library | Luzerne County, PA | 10 | 320,000 |
| Alexandria Library | Alexandria, VA | 5 | 161,000 |
| Sutter County Library | Sutter County, CA | 3 | 97,000 |
| Sacramento Public Library | Sacramento, CA | 28 | 501,000 |
| Omaha Public Library | Omaha, NE | 12 | 562,000 |
Additionally, the embargo and boycotts continue to receive attention in the press, including a Library Journal article.
Many libraries are adding notification about the embargo to their OverDrive sites. Timberland Regional Library is using its notification space to explain publisher restrictions and educate patrons. They have received positive emails from patrons in response.
Here is Multnomah County Library’s version linking to its eloquent explanation from its director.
Other libraries use the space to point to #ebooksforall, which is now over 204,000 signatures. While the petition has been delivered to Macmillan, ALA would like library supporters to continue to sign. Adding it to your OverDrive site is a great way to do that. To have a message added, just contact your OverDrive account representative and let them know what you want it to say.
Finally, Kirkwood Library in Missouri made this cool infographic illustrating what happens to readers of embargoed books.
As of 11/8/2019
At the time of this posting, we know of 26 library systems or consortia who have chosen to not to purchase Macmillan eBooks.
Here is a Publishers Weekly editorial from King County Library System, Timberland Regional Library, and Washington Digital Library Consortium on why we choose to boycott.
| Library or Consortium | Location | Libraries or branches | Population served |
| Berks County Library System | Berks County, PA | 20 | 400,000 |
| Yolo County Library | Yolo County, CA | 9 | 220,000 |
| King County Library System | King County, WA | 50 | 1,500,000 |
| Washington Digital Library Consortium | Washington | 21 | 820,000 |
| Arkansas Digital Library Consortium | Arkansas | 34 | 3,014,000 |
| Cedar Rapids Public Library | Cedar Rapids, IA | 2 | 132,000 |
| Columbus Metropolitan Library (Digital Downloads Collaboration) | Columbus, OH | 18 | 893,000 |
| Des Moines Public Library | Des Moines, IA | 6 | 218,000 |
| Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium | New Jersey | 32 | 843,000 |
| Nashville Public Library | Nashville, TN | 21 | 1,500,000 |
| New Orleans Public Library | New Orleans, LA | 14 | 391,000 |
| Somerset County Library System | Somerset, NJ | 12 | 330,000 |
| Timberland Regional Library | Olympia, WA | 27 | 500,000 |
| Wisconsin Public Library Consortium | Wisconsin | 22 | 5,814,000 |
| Monroe County, NY | Rochester, NY | 33 | 744,344 |
| Multnomah County Library | Portland, OR | 22 | 812,000 |
| Bucks County Free Library | Bucks County, PA | 7 | 628,000 |
| Chesterfield County Public Library | Chesterfield County, VA | 11 | 349,000 |
| Estes Valley Library | Estes Park, CO | 1 | 12,000 |
| Fairfax County Public Library, VA | Fairfax County, VA | 23 | 1,151,000 |
| Houston Public Library | Houston, TX | 44 | 2,313,000 |
| San Jose Public Library | San Jose, CA | 25 | 1,030,000 |
| Public Libraries of Suffolk County | Suffolk County, NY | 55 | 1,481,000 |
| Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library | Topeka and Shawnee County, KS | 1 | 177,000 |
| Virginia Beach Public Library | Virginia Beach, VA | 10 | 450,000 |
| Napa Valley Unified School District | Napa, CA | n/a | 16,750 |