S. C. R. No. 22 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

S. C. R. No. 22

Senator Beagle

Cosponsors: Senators Bacon, Eklund, Hite, Jones

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To urge Ohio members of the Congress of the United 1
States to seek a legislative solution to ensure 2
public access to e-book materials through public 3
libraries. 4

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

       WHEREAS, Public libraries in Ohio are open 1.8 million hours 5
a year to all Ohioans; and 6

       WHEREAS, 2.1 million children and 6.7 million adults are 7
cardholders at public libraries in Ohio; and 8

       WHEREAS, Technology has enabled public libraries to provide 9
e-books, which are rapidly growing in popularity with public 10
library customers; and 11

       WHEREAS, The increasing demand for public libraries to offer 12
e-books is difficult to meet because some major publishers refuse 13
to sell or license e-books to public libraries; and 14

       WHEREAS, Public library customers are increasingly requesting 15
e-books, only to be informed that major publishers will not sell 16
or lease requested titles to public libraries; and 17

       WHEREAS, By denying public libraries access to e-books, and 18
by making e-books cost prohibitive, publishers have limited access 19
to information to only those who can afford to purchase it; and 20

       WHEREAS, This issue should be fully examined and considered 21
so that all children and adults have access to informational 22
materials to enable all citizens to compete in the digitalized 23
global economy; now therefore be it 24

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 25
of the State of Ohio, respectfully request that Ohio members of 26
the Congress of the United States seek a legislative solution to 27
ensure public access to e-book materials through public libraries; 28
and be it further 29

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly 30
authenticated copies of this resolution to the Governor of Ohio, 31
Ohio members of the Congress of the United States, the public 32
libraries of Ohio, and the news media of Ohio. 33

WHEREAS, Public libraries in Ohio are open 1.8 million hours	5
a year to all Ohioans; and	6

WHEREAS, 2.1 million children and 6.7 million adults are	7
cardholders at public libraries in Ohio; and	8

WHEREAS, Technology has enabled public libraries to provide	9
e-books, which are rapidly growing in popularity with public	10
library customers; and	11

WHEREAS, The increasing demand for public libraries to offer	12
e-books is difficult to meet because some major publishers refuse	13
to sell or license e-books to public libraries; and	14

WHEREAS, Public library customers are increasingly requesting	15
e-books, only to be informed that major publishers will not sell	16
or lease requested titles to public libraries; and	17

WHEREAS, By denying public libraries access to e-books, and	18
by making e-books cost prohibitive, publishers have limited access	19
to information to only those who can afford to purchase it; and	20

WHEREAS, This issue should be fully examined and considered	21
so that all children and adults have access to informational	22
materials to enable all citizens to compete in the digitalized	23
global economy; now therefore be it	24

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	25
of the State of Ohio, respectfully request that Ohio members of	26
the Congress of the United States seek a legislative solution to	27
ensure public access to e-book materials through public libraries;	28
and be it further	29

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly	30
authenticated copies of this resolution to the Governor of Ohio,	31
Ohio members of the Congress of the United States, the public	32
libraries of Ohio, and the news media of Ohio.	33