Library system cuts ties with Macmillan over ebook policy

Multnomah County's library system, which includes downtown's Central Library, said it would no longer buy ebooks from Macmillan Publishers because of the company's restrictions on some sales to libraries.

 PMG file photo

Multnomah County's library system said Tuesday it would no longer buy ebooks from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. because of that company's new restrictions on library sales.

Vailey Oehlke, director of the county library system, said in a Nov. 5 press release that the publishing company's restrictions would limit the number of ebooks libraries could lend. This summer, Macmillan changed its ebook policy to allow only one copy of a new book to be sold to libraries. It also imposed an eight-week delay on purchases of additional copies of any new ebook.