Report: “Connecticut House Kills Bill Allowing Librarians to Bargain For Expensive E-Books After Three-Hour Debate”

From the CT Post:

Connecticut municipal and school libraries would have been among the first in the nation to gain negotiating leverage with the nation’s largest book publishers on e-book prices, but the proposed legislation has been shelved.

The bill was abruptly withdrawn from debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday after three hours of criticism from minority Republicans who defended the current cost of leasing electronic and audio books.

House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, who pulled the bill from debate as it was about to enter its fourth hour — putting it in legislative suspended animation — said it’s unlikely that the bill will return for more discussion before the end of the session at midnight May 8.

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House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said in an interview that if the bill had succeeded, it might have resulted in the ebook and audio book market bypassing the state, “so no one is going to want to sell ebooks to libraries in the state of Connecticut.” Candelora said that the state, with its relatively small population of 3.4 million, has very little critical mass to affect change.

Learn More, Read the Complete Article (about 540 words)

Additional Coverage From CT Examiner (paywalled)

See Also: CT Librarians Push Bill That Would Expand E-Book, Audiobook Access (February 24, 2024)

Filed under: Companies (Publishers/Vendors), Interviews, Libraries, News, Profiles, Public Libraries, Reports