60,000+ Book Lovers Agree: Don't Make E-Books Self Destruct

Do you have a copy of a book that's nearly falling apart because it's been read so many times? Dog-eared corners, bent binding, coffee-stains and wrinkled pages - all signs that it's a book that's been well-loved and repeatedly read.

But imagine if your favorite book disappeared if you read it too many times. It'd almost be like you were being punished for the book being too good.

That's exactly what publisher HarperCollins is doing to library e-book collections, and more than 60,000 Change.org members are standing up to the company, demanding that they change their policy which makes e-books self-destruct once they're checked out 26 times.

The size of the petition - started in April by New Jersey librarian Andy Woodworth - has garnered attention from the Library Journal, industry blog GalleyCat and global art blog Art Without Skin.

Nearly 2,000 members have left comments on the petition. Rachel Patton from Atlanta, Georgia said HarperCollins should be ashamed of their policy.

"A real book can last for ages and ages, and through reader after reader after reader as can been clearly demonstrated by looking at any check-out database from a library," wrote Patton. "This is clearly an attempt to wring as much cash as possible out of libraries, and it's frankly despicable considering that libraries are a public service."

Another signer and Change.org member, Jan McGrew, drew on her own experience working at a small library in southern Indiana.

"We cannot afford to spend another $50 or so for the same book that has already circulated 26 times, just to satisfy the few more who may want to read the selection," wrote McGrew. "If a book falls apart, but is still being read, by then, we will have the option to buy it in paperback if we think it is necessary."

Have the nearly 60,000 signatures influenced HarperCollins' policy? The publishing company has defended the policy by saying it protects the business model of e-books, and this week, Erin Crum, spokeswoman for the company, did not indicate an upcoming change.

"HarperCollins has been, and will continue to be, actively engaged with the library community regarding the changes to our e-book policy," said Crum in an email to Change.org.

But the response from the Change.org community continues to grow. If you want to make sure libraries have the ability to serve their patrons, without the fear that their materials might self-destruct, sign the petition - Tell HarperCollins: Limited Checkouts on eBooks is Wrong for Libraries!

Photo credit: India Amos