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E-lending in Libraries Hurts Book Market and Authors' Income, Study Finds

E-book borrowing hurts book sales, study shows. Authors' income at risk as e-lending grows.

In the picture there is a bag and some books on a bed. On the bag it was written library lovers.
In the picture there is a bag and some books on a bed. On the bag it was written library lovers.

E-lending in Libraries Hurts Book Market and Authors' Income, Study Finds

Authors and publishers are already contributing to the state's educational mandate through e-lending. In January 2025, German, Austrian, and Swiss authors' associations united to address the impact of e-lending in public libraries on the book market and authors' remuneration.

A recent scientific study in Germany reveals that e-lending in public libraries significantly harms both print and electronic markets. As e-book borrowing increases, sales in these markets decrease. The study found that educated and wealthy individuals, who tend to borrow e-books more, spend less on book purchases afterwards.

The study also found that current license fees for electronic lending do not cover the losses incurred. Authors' income is significantly reduced due to e-lending, with potential losses reaching up to €170 million for the German book sector alone if Public Lending Rights (PLR) are extended to include e-lending. The European Writers' Council (EWC) endorses this study to shed light on the economic impact of e-lending on authors' income. The EWC hopes that other European countries will follow Germany's lead in addressing e-lending conditions and author remuneration. The authors' associations propose improving author remuneration, developing sustainable licensing models, and preventing further exceptions for e-lending in copyright law.

The study highlights the significant impact of e-lending in public libraries on the book market and authors' income. The EWC endorses the findings and urges other European countries to address these issues. Authors' associations propose improvements to remuneration, licensing models, and copyright law to mitigate the negative effects of e-lending.

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