Introduction

Digital lending is no longer a supplementary library service: it is a major part of how readers access books, magazines, and other content. OverDrive reported that libraries and schools worldwide recorded 820.5 million digital checkouts in 2025, a 10.9% increase over 2024. E-book borrowing reached 379.4 million checkouts, while digital audiobook borrowing grew even faster, rising 13% to 315.9 million.

This shift is changing the relationship between libraries and publishers. Collection budgets, licensing models, access terms, and reader demand now intersect in a more complex digital environment. For publishers and library-service providers, understanding librarians’ priorities is essential to building relevant partnerships and communicating effectively with library decision-makers.

1. Digital Lending Is Becoming a Core Library Service

The scale of digital borrowing is changing how libraries plan collections and negotiate with content providers. OverDrive’s 2025 figures show that e-books accounted for 379.4 million checkouts across its global library and school network. Digital magazines reached 125.1 million checkouts, up 31%, while audiobooks reached 315.9 million, up 13%.

The shift is also visible in individual library systems. The Urban Libraries Council’s 2025 Library Insights Report found that digital-resource demand at participating urban libraries increased nearly 15% between 2023 and 2024. At the same time, visits to these libraries grew by almost 10%, indicating that digital adoption is not simply replacing physical library services.

For publishers, this creates a broader distribution opportunity: library audiences expect convenient digital access alongside physical collections. For librarians, it means collection development increasingly involves decisions about platforms, licensing, accessibility, and long-term value.

A Librarian Email List can help publishers and library-service providers identify relevant professionals for discussions about digital collections, but effective engagement starts with understanding the different needs of public, academic, and school libraries.

2. E-Book Licensing Is Reshaping Publisher-Library Negotiations

Digital borrowing has grown, but the economics of acquiring e-books remain a point of tension. Unlike a physical book, which a library can generally lend repeatedly after purchase, digital titles are commonly supplied under licences with time limits, checkout limits, or both.

The Urban Libraries Council reported in May 2026 that consumers pay approximately $13 for an e-book on average, while public libraries often pay $55 or more for a two-year licence. The organizations behind its e-content advocacy initiative argue that current pricing and licensing structures make it difficult for libraries to sustain access as demand increases.

This difference has practical consequences:

• Libraries must assess the cost of repeated licensing, not just the initial acquisition price.

• Popular titles can create high demand and longer waiting lists.

• Expiring licences can make collection continuity more difficult.

• Publishers must balance library revenue, author interests, reader access, and the economics of digital distribution.

The issue is not simply whether publishers should sell more e-books to libraries. It is how both sides can develop licensing arrangements that support sustainable access while recognizing the commercial value of published content.

For publishers approaching librarians, a Librarian Mailing List is most useful when it supports informed conversations about licensing models, collection budgets, usage patterns, and institutional requirements—not generic product promotion.

3. Academic Libraries Are Reconsidering How They Acquire E-Books

Academic libraries face a distinct set of pressures. Their collections must support teaching, research, specialist subjects, and long-term scholarly access. This makes acquisition models and preservation provisions particularly important.

Ithaka S+R’s 2025 US Library Survey, based on 483 valid responses from library leaders, found that 96% of respondents’ libraries were acquiring e-books. However, acquisition preferences varied: 42% rated traditional item-level selection as very or extremely important, 36% gave that rating to demand-driven acquisition, and 31% to evidence-based acquisition.

The survey also found that 39% of library leaders said their priority for securing perpetual access to e-books had increased over the previous 12 months. This reflects a concern that access should remain dependable beyond a short licence period.

These findings suggest that academic publishers and platform providers should be prepared to explain:

• Whether access is perpetual or time-limited.

• How usage is measured and reported.

• Whether titles are available through individual purchase, subscription, or evidence-based models.

• How content supports specific academic programs and research areas.

• What happens to access if a licence ends or a platform changes.

A Librarian Email Database intended for academic publishing outreach should therefore distinguish collection-development librarians, electronic-resources librarians, acquisitions professionals, and subject specialists. Their responsibilities overlap, but their evaluation criteria may differ.

4. Digital Collection Growth Does Not Remove Budget Constraints

Higher usage does not automatically translate into larger acquisition budgets. Libraries must balance digital access with print collections, databases, journals, staffing, and community or institutional services.

The Urban Libraries Council’s 2025 report found that average per-capita spending on e-books among its reporting urban libraries increased from $1.54 in 2019 to $2.72 in 2024. It also highlighted that the cost of e-resources, particularly e-books, was taking a growing share of collection budgets relative to their use.

Academic libraries report similar resource pressures. In Ithaka S+R’s 2025 survey, 78% of library leaders said they were likely to cancel one or more journal packages in the next licensing cycle. The report also found that e-books accounted for approximately 10% of materials spending among surveyed institutions.

For publishers, these findings point to a need for clearer value propositions. Librarians may want to understand not only the breadth of a digital catalogue but also:

• The cost per expected use or the value of a package.

• Whether licensing terms fit the institution’s budget cycle.

• The relevance of titles to local readers, courses, or research.

• Accessibility and compatibility with existing library systems.

• Usage reporting that supports renewal and cancellation decisions.

Vendors that can explain these details are better positioned to have substantive discussions with collection managers.

5. Publisher Relationships Depend on More Than Content Availability

The digital transition has made publisher-library relationships more complex. Access terms, preservation, metadata, discoverability, privacy, and research permissions can all influence whether a digital resource meets a library’s needs.

A May 2025 report from COMMUNIA, based on discussions with licensing managers from public and academic libraries across Europe and a review of licensing clauses, identified concerns about restrictive terms, liability provisions, text and data mining, AI-related restrictions, and licensing models that do not adequately reflect institutional needs. The report represents the experiences and perspectives documented by those participants; it should not be interpreted as a statistical survey of every library or publisher.

Academic libraries are also placing greater emphasis on the principles guiding publisher and vendor partnerships. Ithaka S+R’s 2025 survey found that 38% of library leaders considered working with publishers and vendors to safeguard research integrity highly important. Another 37% placed high importance on equitable acquisition approaches, while 36% prioritized working with publishers and vendors to advance open access.

This suggests that publishers should approach library partnerships as ongoing relationships rather than one-time sales opportunities. Transparent licensing, reliable metadata, accessible formats, privacy-conscious analytics, and clear communication can all contribute to stronger working relationships.

6. What Publishers and Library-Service Providers Should Research Before Outreach

The growth of digital lending makes librarian outreach more specialized. A publisher promoting a new academic e-book collection has different prospects and messaging requirements from a provider offering public-library reading platforms or digital-content management services.

Before using a Librarian Email List, marketing and sales teams should research the following:

Library type and audience: Identify whether the institution is a public, academic, school, special, or national library. Its readers and acquisition priorities will influence product relevance.

Professional responsibilities: Determine whether the contact works in acquisitions, collection development, digital resources, cataloguing, or library administration.

Digital collection maturity: Look for public information about e-book platforms, digital lending services, electronic-resource collections, and institutional priorities.

Licensing and budget context: Understand whether the offer supports individual title selection, subscription access, perpetual ownership, demand-driven acquisition, or another model.

Geographic and regulatory requirements: Consider local accessibility standards, privacy obligations, procurement procedures, and copyright or licensing frameworks.

Contact accuracy: Confirm that the librarian still holds the listed position and that the contact details are appropriate for professional communication.

InfoGlobalData provides B2B contact data, email lists, mailing lists, and data-appending services. Publishers and library-service providers evaluating its librarian-related data resources can assess whether available records align with their target library types, geographic markets, and professional roles. Buyers should independently check data coverage, freshness, verification practices, and suitability for their intended outreach.

Practical Takeaways for Publishers and Library-Service Providers

To make librarian outreach more relevant and productive:

1. Segment by library type: Separate public, academic, school, and special libraries rather than treating all librarians as one audience.

2. Target the right professional roles: Distinguish acquisitions and collection-development staff from digital-resource managers, subject librarians, and senior administrators.

3. Lead with licensing transparency: Explain pricing, access duration, checkout limits, renewal terms, and perpetual-access options clearly.

4. Demonstrate collection value: Show how titles or services support reader demand, academic programs, research, accessibility, or institutional objectives.

5. Review contact records regularly: Check job titles, institutional affiliations, professional email addresses, and duplicate records before launching campaigns.

Conclusion

Digital lending and e-book adoption are reshaping the relationship between libraries and publishers. Rising digital circulation creates opportunities to reach more readers, but it also raises questions about licensing costs, access continuity, collection budgets, and the long-term value of digital content. Research shows that libraries are adopting varied acquisition models while placing greater emphasis on sustainable pricing, perpetual access, and transparent publisher partnerships.

For publishers and library-service providers, successful engagement requires understanding the institution as well as the individual librarian. A well-segmented Librarian Mailing List can support that process, but accurate contact information and relevant research must underpin every campaign. As digital collections continue to evolve, organizations that approach librarians with clear value and collaborative solutions will be better positioned to build lasting relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Are Libraries Increasing Their Use of E-Books?

E-books offer convenient remote access and allow libraries to provide digital collections through online lending platforms. OverDrive reported 379.4 million e-book checkouts across its library and school network in 2025, illustrating the scale of digital borrowing.

2. How Do Libraries License E-Books From Publishers?

Libraries commonly obtain digital titles through licensing arrangements that may limit access by time period, number of checkouts, or both. Terms vary by publisher and platform, so librarians assess cost, access duration, usage restrictions, and renewal conditions before acquiring content.

3. What Is the Difference Between a Librarian Email List and a Librarian Email Database?

The terms are often used interchangeably for collections of professional librarian contact records. Depending on the provider, a database may include additional fields such as institution type, job title, location, and organizational information.

4. What Information Should a Librarian Contact List Contain?

Useful records may include a librarian’s name, professional email address, current job title, institution, library type, and geographic location. Buyers should also ask how frequently records are updated and how email addresses and professional roles are checked.

5. How Can Publishers Identify Librarians Responsible for E-Book Acquisitions?

Publishers can research institutional staff directories and professional responsibilities to identify acquisitions librarians, collection-development specialists, and electronic-resources managers. Academic institutions may also have subject librarians who influence purchases in particular disciplines.

6. Why Is Perpetual Access Important to Academic Libraries?

Perpetual access allows an institution to retain access to purchased digital content beyond a limited subscription or licence period, subject to the applicable agreement. Ithaka S+R’s 2025 survey found that 39% of library leaders reported an increased priority for securing perpetual access to e-books.

7. How Can Publishers Build Stronger Relationships With Librarians?

Publishers can build trust through transparent licensing, relevant content recommendations, accessible digital formats, clear usage reporting, and responsive communication. Understanding a library’s collection priorities and budget constraints also helps make discussions more useful.