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Colorado Libraries Struggle to Balance Demand and Cost for Digital Materials
In the era of digital libraries, the surge in e-book popularity brings hefty costs, leaving many institutions in Colorado grappling to allocate resources. With demand increasing annually, libraries are now dedicating more than half of their collection budgets to digital materials that make up less than half of their circulation.
Thousands of patrons flocked to digital library cards amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. However, the unprecedented growth comes at a steep price, resulting in new access limitations at various Colorado libraries.
Denver Public Libraries imposed restrictions on its digital lending system for the first time in August, requiring patrons to visit a branch in person to prove they are Colorado residents before accessing e-books and audiobooks. Meanwhile, Larimer County's Poudre Libraries and Anythink in Adams County might implement similar limitations later this year.
Stacy Watson, director of collection services at Denver Public Libraries, explained that the strain in budgets originates from the high cost associated with meeting patient wait times for digital content. When demand exceeds available resources, libraries are obliged to repurchase e-books to keep them in circulation, further driving the costs higher.
"We couldn't keep up with demand," Watson said. "We were putting so much money into it weekly to meet the wait times for holds, and the only way to curb it was to ensure that the other people using our collections were actually Colorado residents."
These new restrictions also impact neighbor libraries, causing an increase in demand at those that haven't imposed similar changes. Kate Prestwood, collection services manager at Douglas County Libraries, noted that displaced patrons often turn to other libraries, stressing resources and raising holds and wait times further.
In some cases, popular e-books and audiobooks can cost libraries more than six times as much as their print counterparts. For instance, when "Onyx Storm" by Rebecca Yarros was released, Jefferson County Public Libraries spent $3,300 on 166 print copies, compared to $22,000 on approximately 360 digitized versions.
Under conventional purchasing models, libraries are limited to a specified number of checkouts or a length of time for e-books. Mark Fink, executive director at Anythink, explained that once those limitations are reached, the book can't be borrowed until the library repurchases it.
As digital spending continues to rise, budgeting for physical materials has become a challenge for many libraries. In 2019, Anythink spent 32.5% of its $2.6 million collections budget on e-books and audiobooks. By 2024, the library system more than doubled its digital spending, jumping to $1.67 million.
Douglas County Libraries spent over $3.1 million on e-books and audiobooks in 2024, accounting for 70% of the library's total collection budget and over twice the amount spent on physical materials. Digital loans accounted for 35% of its circulation that year.
Jefferson County Public Libraries increased its digital budget by over 40% between 2019 and 2024, spending $4.1 million on e-books and audiobooks in 2024, which accounted for 54% of the library's total materials budget. Despite the significant investment in digital materials, only 24% of the library's circulation was digital in 2024.
As the demand for e-books and audiobooks continues to outpace available resources and budget constraints, Colorado libraries face a mounting tension between supplying the public's needs and managing costs.
- As digital spending in Colorado libraries continues to escalate, the funds allocated for physical materials like books and artworks have become increasingly challenging to manage.
- The surge in demand for e-books and audiobooks is affecting not only the libraries imposing access limitations but also neighboring libraries, causing resource strain and increased wait times.
- In the realm of policy and finance, Colorado libraries grapple with striking a balance between meeting the public's ever-increasing demand for digital materials and containing costs, particularly in the face of steep prices for e-books and audiobooks.
- Amid this digital transition, the living, arts, and entertainment sectors in Colorado libraries undergo a transformation, with technology playing a crucial role in shaping future policies related to e-books, digital materials, and accessibility.
