Amazon reveals why it does not sell e-books and audiobooks it publishes to libraries

• Amazon is the only U.S. publisher that does not sell e-books or audiobooks to libraries.

• Since 2009, Amazon has published thousands of e-books.

• Public libraries give Americans access to books and media, some of which are paid for by Amazon.

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According to The Washington Post, Amazon does not sell thousands of e-books or tens of thousands of audiobooks to libraries.

The e-commerce giant has been publishing books under a dozen imprints in various genres since 2009, and also owns Audible Studios, a major audiobook player. Publishers decide how to distribute works once the author has signed, which usually includes selling physical and digital copies to libraries for public distribution. However, according to The Washington Post, Amazon is the only major publisher that completely skips selling digital versions to libraries.

“It is not clear to us that current digital library lending models reasonably balance the interests of authors and library patrons,” Amazon Publishing publisher Mikyla Bruder told The Post. According to The Author’s Guild, libraries typically pay more for e-books than a private buyer – usually between $40 and $60.

E-books purchased by libraries are also subject to greater restrictions than physical books, which can be borrowed multiple times without the publisher’s consent. Digital copies are available for a limited period, or the amount of time they can be borrowed before they need to be repurchased, according to The Guild.

It is difficult to determine the exact losses for libraries and customers. As of 2018, 90% of libraries offer digital loans. People in the United States continue to rely on libraries. According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, in 2015 there were 1.39 billion total library visits.

“In today’s rapidly changing information environment, public libraries are flexible and responsive to their communities. We see this through resource, service and utilization metrics. Our findings indicate widespread use of reference services, the addition of more e-books and audiovisual materials to collections, and increased use of public access computers,” IMLS Director Kathryn K. Matthew said in a 2018 statement.

Amazon sells physical copies of its book to libraries, with exceptions like Mindy Kaling’s latest title, which are only available digitally. Although Amazon publishes few bestsellers, six of its ten most popular e-books last year were Amazon titles, which means they won’t be available in libraries.

Amazon did not respond to Insider’s request for additional comment.

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