Oconnee libraries join a boycott

The Oconee Public Library System has joined libraries elsewhere in a boycott of a major publisher. Macmillan Publishers this month enacted an embargo on library e-book purchases that prevent libraries of any size from buying more than one copy of a newly-released e-book for the first eight weeks after publication. The purpose: to increase sales. The Oconee Public Library has threatened its boycott will run at least 12 weeks, or until Macmillan relents. “We realize that this will cause short-term limits on what our users are able to borrow from us,” said Library Director Blair Hinson. “However, as we move even more into lending e-books and downloadable material, we really don’t want to have such restrictions placed on what our borrowers have access to….” For a limited time during or after the boycott, library patrons may not have access to Macmillan titles—both print and electronic. “We would just ask our users to have patience and to understand that we’re operating in their best interest,” said Hinson.