Brookline Library Boycotts eBook Publisher

BROOKLINE, MA — The Public Library of Brookline has announced they will boycott Macmillan eBooks beginning Jan. 1, 2020, according to a release from the library. The decision comes from an embargo the company is putting on its ebooks, allowing libraries to purchase only one copy of an ebook for the first eight weeks of release.

"In protest, we plan to boycott Macmillan eBooks effective January 1, 2020," the library said, and outlined their rationale.

If other library systems follow suit and boycott Macmillan eBooks in protest of the embargo policy, "we may have a real chance of collectively overturning the embargo," the release said. Library systems all over the country are joining the boycott, according to Library Journal.

The library said it's "highly probable" that, if Macmillan is not challenged, then more of the Big Five publishers will also make such embargoes on content. "And there is no reason to think that eLending restrictions will stop there."

The library said their system is already struggling with unsustainable cost increases from growth alone, and new metered access restrictions from publishers will make it worse. "Limiting our spending on Macmillan can give us financial breathing room while we determine how to move forward sustainably."

Here's what a successful boycott campaign will look like, according to the library:

• No other publisher implements an embargo of any type
• No publisher adds further restrictions to lending models
• No publisher increases pricing to libraries out of proportion with increases to consumers
• If enough other libraries join us, Macmillan will drop the embargo

The library said they realize that many patrons will not get the content they want, but noted that if successful, the boycott will mean that more readers will have access to the content.

Macmillan CEO John Sargent said library use of newly released ebooks hurts the publisher's revenue, according to Publishers Weekly.

“Mr. Sargent shared with COSLA Macmillan’s concern that e-book sales are rising in public libraries but declining with consumers,” the outlet reported the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies as saying after a meeting with Sargent.

"A boycott at least allows us to control the narrative," the library said in their release. "[R]ather than simply saying 'I’m sorry,' we can say, 'We’re advocating for you, and here’s why.'"