The eBook Study Group celebrates the Connecticut General Assembly’s passage of landmark legislation to curb restrictive eBook licensing practices that directly interfere with libraries’ ability to provide public access. The bill now heads to Governor Ned Lamont’s desk for signature, marking a major step toward fairer digital content terms that support the library mission.
______________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2025
Connecticut House Passes Landmark eBook Bill Backed by National Legal Strategy
eBook Study Group Applauds Legislative Milestone, Eyes Multi-State Implementation
HARTFORD, CT — The eBook Study Group, a national coalition of legal and policy experts focused on fair digital access for libraries, applauds the 106–38 passage of long-awaited legislation by the Connecticut House of Representatives that will make eBook licenses more consistent with the library mission and better serve library users across the state.
The bill is the result of years of research, legal analysis, and multi-state coordination with eBook Study Group. The CT bill prohibits publishers from imposing simultaneous restrictions on both the number of times an eBook can be loaned and the duration for which it can be held by a library. The bill’s effectuation is contingent on adoption of similar laws by other states totaling at least 7 million in population.
The eBook Study Group extends deep thanks to the Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC), Connecticut Library Association (CLA), and Connecticut Association for School Librarians (CASL) for their unwavering advocacy on behalf of libraries and their communities throughout this legislative process.
“Other states need to follow Connecticut’s lead and the roadmap we just laid out. This legislation isn’t just about libraries, it’s about standing up for your town, your budget, and your taxpayers. Since the beginning of the digital age, the publishing industry has dictated the terms; now it’s time for every state to push back,” said Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium.
The companion bill in the Senate, S.B. 1234, passed 35–1 on May 8 and now heads to Governor Ned Lamont’s desk for his signature.
“This vote is a major step forward for libraires,” said Kyle K. Courtney, founder of the eBook Study Group. “Our team developed this eBook legislative model to ensure public funds are used effectively and that libraries can fulfill their mission of access—without being hamstrung by restrictive license terms.”
Modern eBook licenses force libraries to “rent” or “lease” their eBook collections, and then re-rent the same title every 24 months or after a fixed number of loans—typically 26 check-outs. These eBook contracts also frequently charge libraries five to ten times more than consumers pay for the same title, essentially taxing them for their public service mission.
"The State Library joins the Connecticut library community in celebrating the passage of this landmark legislation," said State Librarian Deborah Schander. "The ability to negotiate better licensing terms for ebooks and e-audiobooks is vital to libraries' mission to serve our communities and use the taxpayer dollars entrusted to us."
The eBook Study Group provided legal drafting support, model language, and policy guidance to legislators and advocates throughout Connecticut’s process. The bill was championed by State Representatives Matt Blumenthal and Eleni Kavros DeGraw, and State Senator Tony Hwang, all of whom have demonstrated a deep commitment to the future of libraries and digital access.
“We are grateful to Connecticut’s legislative champions for recognizing the urgent need to modernize library access in the digital age,” said Juliya Ziskina, a policy lead with the eBook Study Group. “This is a national breakthrough. Connecticut is showing real leadership—and we’re already working with lawmakers in several other states to carry this model forward.”
The legislation’s population threshold trigger is a key element of Connecticut’s eBook bill. By tying implementation to similar laws in other states, the bill promotes multi-state collaboration and protects against legal challenges from powerful publishing interests, who have opposed such reforms in the past.
“This legislation is a major step in the right direction,” says Dave Hansen, Executive Director, Authors Alliance. “Big publishers have attempted to squeeze every drop of profit out of libraries that they can, in some cases by cutting out libraries from ebook access altogether. But authors gain so much from libraries when they preserve their works and share them with the public under fair terms. This legislation restores some of the balance that has been completely lost as the world shifted from print to electronic licensed access. I hope it serves as a model for other states to follow.”
With Connecticut’s legislation nearing enactment, the eBook Study Group is now turning its focus to supporting additional states in passing complementary laws. The goal: to reach the 7-million population threshold and officially activate Connecticut’s law, setting a national precedent for fair, sustainable, and public-interest-aligned eBook licensing.
Media Contact:
eBook Study Group
[email protected]
About the eBooks Study Group:
The eBook Study Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring equitable access to information through fair licensing and contractual agreements between libraries and publishers. www.ebookstudygroup.org