Last month, New Jersey librarian Andy Woodworth launched an online petition entitled “Tell HarperCollins: Limited Checkouts on eBooks is Wrong for Libraries.”
So far 53,000 people have signed the document, criticizing HarperCollins’ controversial decision to limit library eBooks to 26 checkouts.
Here’s more from the petition: “Limiting a book to 26 total checkouts means that it could be there one day and gone the next, leaving that 27th borrower in limbo as the library assesses whether to re-purchase the eBook. If left in place, this policy would threaten public access to eBooks by making them disappear from the virtual shelf.”
The release concluded: “Please join us in voicing your opposition to this policy of self-destructing eBooks. To see if libraries are still boycotting HarperCollins, you can visit the website Boycott HarperCollins.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post erroneously stated that authors Neil Gaiman, Louise Erdrich and Wally Lamb had signed the petition.