At a time when bad news seems to dominate the news, we have a positive announcement to share! Macmillan Publishers has dropped the embargo on newly published ebooks to libraries which the company implemented last November. The embargo limited libraries to purchase only one copy of each new ebook title for the first eight weeks after a book’s release.
Publisher’s Weekly reported on the removal of the embargo on March 17th, noting that the announcement was unexpected. The article quotes Macmillan CEO, John Sargent:
“There are times in life when differences should be put aside,” reads a brief memo from Macmillan CEO John Sargent addressed to librarians, authors, illustrators, and agents. “Effective on Friday (or whenever thereafter our wholesalers can effect the change), Macmillan will return to the library e-book pricing model that was in effect on October 31st, 2019. In addition, we will be lowering some e-book prices on a short term basis to help expand libraries collections in these difficult times. Stay safe.”
Libraries across the nation embraced the news and hope this opens new dialogue on the way ebooks are made available to libraries.
For more on the story, check out the article from Publisher’s Weekly.
