H. C. R. No. 50 As Reported by the House State and Local Government Committee

As Reported by the House State and Local Government Committee

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. C. R. No. 50

Representatives Lundy, Blair

Cosponsors: Representatives Grossman, Curtin, Ramos, Barborak, Antonio, McClain, Sheehy, Hagan, R., Ashford, Reece, Fedor, Budish, Rogers, Hackett, Gerberry, Brown

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To urge Ohio members of the Congress of the United 1
States to seek a solution to ensure public access 2
to e-book materials through public libraries. 3

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, Public libraries in Ohio are open 1.8 million hours 4
a year to all Ohioans; and 5

       WHEREAS, 2.1 million children and 6.7 million adults are 6
cardholders at public libraries in Ohio; and 7

       WHEREAS, Technology has enabled public libraries to provide 8
e-books, which are rapidly growing in popularity with public 9
library customers; and 10

       WHEREAS, The increasing demand for public libraries to offer 11
e-books is difficult to meet because some major publishers refuse 12
to sell or license e-books to public libraries; and 13

       WHEREAS, Public library customers are increasingly requesting 14
e-books, only to be informed that major publishers will not sell 15
or lease requested titles to public libraries; and 16

       WHEREAS, By denying public libraries access to e-books, and 17
by making e-books cost prohibitive, publishers have limited access 18
to information to only those who can afford to purchase it; and 19

       WHEREAS, This issue should be fully examined and considered 20
so that all children and adults have access to informational 21
materials to enable all citizens to compete in the digitalized 22
global economy; now therefore be it 23

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 24
of the State of Ohio, respectfully request that Ohio members of 25
the Congress of the United States seek a solution to ensure public 26
access to e-book materials through public libraries; and be it 27
further 28

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 29
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 30
Governor of Ohio, Ohio members of the Congress of the United 31
States, the public libraries of Ohio, and the news media of Ohio. 32

WHEREAS, Public libraries in Ohio are open 1.8 million hours	4
a year to all Ohioans; and	5

WHEREAS, 2.1 million children and 6.7 million adults are	6
cardholders at public libraries in Ohio; and	7

WHEREAS, Technology has enabled public libraries to provide	8
e-books, which are rapidly growing in popularity with public	9
library customers; and	10

WHEREAS, The increasing demand for public libraries to offer	11
e-books is difficult to meet because some major publishers refuse	12
to sell or license e-books to public libraries; and	13

WHEREAS, Public library customers are increasingly requesting	14
e-books, only to be informed that major publishers will not sell	15
or lease requested titles to public libraries; and	16

WHEREAS, By denying public libraries access to e-books, and	17
by making e-books cost prohibitive, publishers have limited access	18
to information to only those who can afford to purchase it; and	19

WHEREAS, This issue should be fully examined and considered	20
so that all children and adults have access to informational	21
materials to enable all citizens to compete in the digitalized	22
global economy; now therefore be it	23

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	24
of the State of Ohio, respectfully request that Ohio members of	25
the Congress of the United States seek a solution to ensure public	26
access to e-book materials through public libraries; and be it	27
further	28

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives	29
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the	30
Governor of Ohio, Ohio members of the Congress of the United	31
States, the public libraries of Ohio, and the news media of Ohio.	32