Public Libraries: Electronic Publishing

(asked on 15th July 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to help support libraries to purchase e-books.


Answered by
Chris Bryant Portrait
Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This question was answered on 21st July 2025

The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires all local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.

It is for each local authority to determine its stock management policy, including which books, audiobooks, e-books, e-audiobooks and other materials, are made available for the benefit of its residents. We expect library collections to be provided in a variety of formats.

The Government welcomes continued developments from the public library sector on e-licensing and e-book lending. Arts Council England funded Libraries Connected to deliver a pilot project to explore mutual benefits of increasing the affordability and availability of ebooks in public libraries. A project summary report was published in February 2025.

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