Written by Melissa Stan
From eBooks you can read on your preferred device to eAudiobooks you can enjoy on a morning walk, Johnson County Library’s digital collection makes it easy to stay connected to books wherever life takes you. Whether at home, on the go, or somewhere in between, thousands of readers and listeners rely on these resources every day. Donor support plays an important role in keeping this collection strong, relevant, and accessible to our community.
Accessibility That Meets People Where They Are
Digital books offer flexibility that many readers depend on. eAudiobooks can be sped up or slowed down, and eBooks allow readers to enlarge text, change background colors, or switch to dyslexic-friendly fonts.
“Digital eBooks and eAudiobooks can also be adjusted to suit the patron’s accessible needs,” eResource Collection Specialist Samantha Chinn explains. “These editing capabilities allows for more people to be able to enjoy their content.”
For many in our community, these features make reading easier, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.
Why Digital Books Cost More Than You Might Expect
Digital titles are licensed for a limited time or number of checkouts, whichever comes first. Because digital titles expire and must be repurchased, maintaining access requires ongoing investment.
“When we pay for a physical book, we pay a one-time fee and then that physical book can be checked out multiple times until it becomes too damaged or worn out to circulate,” Samantha says. “With purchasing an eBook, the pricing is higher to reflect the license involved.”
Once that license expires, the Library must repurchase the title to keep it available.
To put that into perspective:
· A popular print book may cost the Library about $17 and remain in circulation for years.
· The same title as an eBook may cost $27.50 for a one-year license.
· A one-year eAudiobook license for a popular title may cost $42.75.
Where Donors Make the Difference
“The digital collection is one that is so popular but also can be quite expensive to stock and replenish,” Samantha explains. “This is why donations really help our collection to continue to grow!”
Donor support helps ensure that high-demand titles stay available, wait times remain manageable, and new authors continue to be added. It also helps the Library be a good steward of tax dollars by offsetting rising licensing costs, allowing public funding to continue supporting essential services like programs, staffing, and physical collections.
Simply put, donors help keep the digital shelves full.
If you value the convenience, accessibility, and variety of the Library’s digital collection, we invite you to help sustain it. Your gift directly supports the purchase and renewal of eBooks and eAudiobooks, ensuring these resources remain available to everyone who needs them.
Make a gift today and help keep our digital library strong, accessible, and growing for our entire community.