U.S. libraries struggle with rising e-book and audiobook costs, seeking state laws for affordable pricing.

Libraries across the U.S. face mounting costs to access e-books and audiobooks, as they often lease these digital titles from publishers for a limited time with limited usage. Many libraries struggle to afford the rising prices, which are typically higher than the cost for consumers. As a result, some libraries are seeking new state laws to help address this affordability issue and work with publishers to find more reasonable pricing for digital materials.