Katz Muhl Passes Legislation to Empower Local Libraries in E-Book Negotiations with Publishers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Local libraries in Illinois will have new protections in e-book and audiobook negotiations with publishing companies after state Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, D- Northbrook, passed groundbreaking legislation to prohibit abusive contracts between libraries and publishers.

“As an avid e-book reader and library patron, I was stunned to learn that publishers were routinely overcharging libraries for e-books and audiobooks,” Katz Muhl said. “This legislation ends checkout limits and prices exponentially exceeding the market rate–both of which take advantage of taxpayer dollars. Thank you to the libraries for lifting up this issue and fighting for a level playing field in negotiations.”

Katz Muhl’s House Bill 5236 advanced to the state Senate after being passed by the House in a bipartisan vote and has been sponsored in that chamber by state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel. The bill would:

• Prohibit libraries from entering into a contract or license agreement for electronic literary materials that restricts its operational, lending or sharing functions;
• Prohibit contracts or license agreements that require a library to violate the Library Records Confidentiality Act;
• Prohibit any contract containing provisions that is prohibited or that purports to waive any provision of the legislation;
• Void or prevent enforcement of any future noncompliant contract—the bill would not affect contracts already existing before its effective date.

The bill now awaits Senate passage, and would then go to the governor’s desk for signature.