CIPA Signs eBook Pilot Project Agreement with Douglas County Libraries

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CIPA, Douglas County Libraries, ebooks in libraries, James LaRue

CIPA President Nancy Libbey Mills and Douglas County LIbrary Director James LaRue

The Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) and the Douglas County Libraries have signed an historic agreement to help put high quality independently published books into the library district’s eBook loan program. This new partnership underscores the changing nature of book publishing and distribution with the ever-increasing popularity of eBooks.

According to Nancy Libbey Mills, CIPA’s President, this pilot project fits perfectly into CIPA’s mission to “encourage cooperative efforts and the free exchange of information, experience and expertise to help our members achieve and prosper while also assisting the writing and marketing of their books through cooperative ventures, education and networking.”

In her words “Douglas County Libraries and Colorado Independent Publishers Association made history today inking a contract allowing CIPA to facilitate the sale of its members’ eBooks to the Douglas County Libraries for check out by its patrons. The DCL and CIPA agree that eBooks will never replace printed books, and we also agree that eBooks will continue to become a larger part of our ever-increasing joint effort to make books available to as many readers as possible, at the same time conserving energy and our natural resources. This partnership will not only allow libraries to dramatically expand their catalog of books, without taking up valuable shelf space, but it allows CIPA members the opportunity to have an expanded audience for their books.”

James LaRue, Director of the Douglas County Libraries, commented, “Connecting writers and readers is what we do best, through our two million visitors a year to our facilities and another two million through our catalog. This project will demonstrate not only that libraries are firm supporters of the independent publishers through our willingness to buy and promote their works, but also that libraries and publishers can help each other grow the still-developing eBook market.”