Review how ebooks could be made cheaper for libraries
Review the Public Lending Right Act 1979, to take into account ebooks and how to make them cheaper for libraries.
Signatures
87
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 87/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 87/100,000
- 23 JAN 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Jess Mackin
Background
People are increasingly unable to access physical libraries due to schedules. Increasing availability of ebooks could increase reading.
We want the Government to investigate policies to increase the availability of ebooks in libraries by reducing financial burdens and encouraging publishers to increase the overall selection available.
The cost to libraries of buying ebooks is significantly higher than print, and the dominance of a "one copy, one user" licensing model often results in long waiting lists. Despite increasing demand, the overall selection of ebooks offered by publishers to libraries remains relatively small.