Keshia Horbul From: CaroleAnn Churcher Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2019 2: 16 PM To: Dave Landers Cc: Steph Palmateer; George Pirie; Keshia Horbul; Noella Rinaldo Subject: RE: Statement on Equitable Public Access to Ebook Attachments: Request for support on Statement on Equitable Public Access to E- Books - Library.pdf Hi Dave, Attached you will find our letter, proposed language for a resolution, a press release from the Canadian Urban Libraries Council ( CULC) and the statement. I' ve pasted the resolution wording below. Whereas The City of Timmins recognizes the important role that libraries play in our community including the early literacy programs that are integral to developing proficient readers and ensuring that children succeed in school; and Whereas more and more digital literacy programs run by libraries also help ensure that citizens can contribute to our digita/ world. Additionally, vulnerable demographic groups, including seniors, low income families, youth, and new Canadians rely on access to libraries as an important tool for their participation in the community —from education to searching for jobs to consuming Canadian cultural materials, and Whereas the libraries in our community recognize that library users increasingly seek to access digital publications offered by multinational publishers, and that access to those publications is too often curtailed by prohibitively high licensing fees or else entirely denied to Canadian libraries; in 2018 Timmins had 16,452 circulations of electronic publications, and Whereas libraries must be in a position to offer digital publications to their users as part of their service offering to our community, particularly given the contemporary rapid pace of digitization of educational and cultura/ materials; Now Therefore be it Resolved that The City of Timmins hereby: 1. Indicates our support for the Canadian Urban Libraries Council in its efforts to increase access to digital publications for library users in the City of Timmins and across Canada; and 2. Calls on the Federal government to investigate the barriers faced by libraries in acquiring digital publications and the problems that poses for vulnerable demographic groups in Canada; and 3. Asks the Federal government and our local Member of Parliament to develop a solution that increases access to digital publications across Canada and assists libraries in meeting the cost requirements to acquire digital publications. Thank you, Carole-. lnn Churcher Chief Executive Officer Timmins Public Library 320 Second Avenue Timmins, Ontario P4N 8A4 Tel: ( 705) 360-2623 Ext. 8517 Tel: ( 705) 221- 1431 ( cell) Fax: ( 705) 360- 2688 tpl. timmins. ca Telephone: 705- 360- 2623 Administration: Ext. 8525 CM Shields Branch library Ext. 8590 Admin. fax: 705- 360- 2688 December 4, 2019 Mayor George Pirie City of Timmins 220 Algonquin Blvd. E. Timmins, ON P4N 1B1 Re: Statement on Equitable Public Access to E- books Dear Mayor Pirie, We are seeking support for the right of Canadian libraries to access digital content for our communities. Major publishing companies are placing severe restrictions on the ability for libraries in Canada to lend digital content, such as e- books and e- audiobooks, to our patrons. These restrictions have a direct impact on the residents of our city. This is not only a big- city problem; it affects smali northern and medium size libraries of our region. Across the country, libraries are uniting in their fight against these harmful restrictions, including unsustainably high prices and embargoes on content. The Canadian Urban Libraries Council ( CULC) and the Urban Libraries Council ( ULC) of major U. S. library systems are working together to launch a communications campaign to highlight the issues and demand responsive change. Their plan is to work with publishers, authors and legislators to find a solution that is reasonable to all parties. Many North Ainerican mayors, have already signed a letter of support (see attached). By supporting this campaign, you are standing up for equitable access, and advocating for e- book and e- audiobook publishers to institute fair, transparent and flexible lending models for public libraries. This is a unique opportunity to provide a northern voice on this issue which affects all of our libraries. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, z; , i f Noella Rinaldo Library Board Chair L. < i 9 ;" ,_.__.' C c-t Carole- Ann Churcher Chief Executive Officer Timmins Public Library: 320 2" d Avenue, Timmins, Ontario P4N 8A4 Charles M. Shields Centennial library/ Biblioth que:99 Bloor, Box 400, South Porcupine, Ontario PON 1 HO http: / 1tpl. timmins. ca December 3, 2019 Timmins Public Library Draft Municipa) Motion: Whereas The City of Timmins recogni2es the important role that libraries play in our community including the early literacy programs that are integral to developing proficient readers and ensuring that children succeed in school; and Whereas more and more digital literacy programs run by libraries also help ensure that citizens can contribute to our diqital wor/d. Additionally, vulnerable demographic groups, inc/uding seniors, low income families, youth, and new Canadians rely on access to libraries as an important tool for their participafion in the community —from education to searching forjobs to consuming Canadian cultural materia/s, and Whereas the libraries in our community recognize that library users increasingly seek to access digital publications offered by multinational publishers, and that access to rhose publications is too often curtailed by prohibitively high licensing fees or else entirely denied to Canadian libraries; in 2018 Timmins had 26,452 circulations of e/ ectronic publications, and Whereas libraries must be in a position to offer digital publications to their users as part of their service offering to our community, particularly given the contemporary rapid pace of digitization of educational and cultural materials; Now Therefore be it Reso/ved that The City of Timmins hereby: 1. Indicates our support for the Canadian Urban Libraries Council in its efforts to increase access to digital publications for library users in the City of Timmins and across Canada; and 2. Calls on the Federa/ government to investigate the barriers faced by libraries in acquiring digita! publications and the problems thai poses for vulnerab/e demographic groups in Canada; and 3. Asks the Federal government and our local Member of Parliament to deve/op a so/utian that increases access to digital publications across Canada and assists libraries in meeting ihe cost requirements to acquire digital publications. d U R B A N LIBRARIES Canadian Libraries Council 7 ; Consdl dm Bf6liotheqae . .-. du Canada FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2019 CULC/ CBUC Press Contad Jefferson Gilbert, Executive Director 416- 699- 1938 jgilbert@culc. ca North American Elected Officials Send Message to E- Book Publishers: Price Gouging Public Libraries Is Unacceptable Mayors from major urban jurisdictions sign statement urging e- book publishers to institute equitable and transparent pricing for public libraries. TORONTO and WASHIN TON — Seventy- nine elected officials from North American cities and counties have signed the joint Canadian Urban Libraries Council / Conseil des Bibliotheques Urbaines du Canada and Urban Libraries Council' s Statement on Equitable Public Access to E- Books, championing the urgent need for equitable e- book pricing and access for public libraries. The statement has been signed by mayors and county executives from some ofthe largest urban jurisdictions in North America —together, these leaders serve over 44 million citizens. The statement has been issued in direct response to Macmillan Publisher' s embargo on e- book sales to libraries that went into effect on November 1. With this new policy, libraries cannot purchase more than a single copy of new e- book titles from Macmillan for the first two months after the book' s initial publication. The Macmillan embargo will prevent libraries from providing equitable access to digital learning opportunities, widening the digital divide, and creating even greater obstacles for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Multinational Publishers are price-gouging taxpayers and intensifying the gaps between the haves and have- nots in communities of all sizes with their restrictive licenses and excessively high prices. Most concerning is the new e- book embargo imposed by Macmillan Publishers, which results in an intentional erosion of digital equity by severely restricting e- book access for library patrons," said CULC/ CBUC Chair Pilar Martinez and ULC President & CEO Susan Benton. " By signing the Statement on Equitable Public Access to E- Books, North America' s mayors and county executives are sending a powerful message they will not stand for the extreme restrictions e- book publishers are placing on public libraries, which limit/jeopardize their essential role as engines for democracy." Developed by CULC/ CBUC in partnership with ULC, the statement serves as a platform for city and county leaders to show their support for the vital role that libraries play in building educated communities, and to add their voices to the call for e- book publishers to eliminate discriminatory lending models for libraries. The statement reads as follows: Major publishers have introduced severe restrictions to e- book and e- audiobook lending for public libraries, including embargoes on the sales of new titles and unreasonably high prices,