1.02.22
What are Digital Lending Rights? Catch up with our advocacy campaign here.
The ASA has been campaigning for the expansion of the Australian lending rights schemes (PLR/ELR) to include digital formats (ebooks and audiobooks) for a number of years, and our latest research demonstrates the issue is more significant than ever.
Upon review of the Australian Public Libraries Statistical Reports for Australian public libraries for the years 2015 to 2020, we can report the following on public library collections:
In the same period, ebook loans increased 135.4%.
These statistics demonstrate the growth of ebook collections and loans without factoring in the full impact of COVID in 2020 and 2021, which has considerably accelerated the trend. Once the 2020-21 and 2021-22 statistics become available, we are concerned the increase in ebook collections and loans will be even more stark because we know that during the pandemic large numbers of library patrons switched to ebook borrowing, possibly permanently.
But none of these ebooks will be captured in library surveys when PLR/ELR payments are calculated.
How are these trends affecting the bottom line for authors and illustrators? We interviewed Ambassador and ASA Board Director Kirsty Murray about her lending rights experience.
How vital have lending rights been to your career as an author?
Author’s incomes are often unreliable and uneven. Lending rights has allowed me to maintain my focus on my creative work in lean years and to make modest contributions to my superannuation in other years. PLR/ELR has made it possible for me to produce a substantial body of work over the course of two decades, and in some years, it has represented over 30% of my annual income.
Without lending rights to underpin my income, I doubt I would have had the courage to persevere with many of my novels.
Have you seen changes in your lending rights payments alongside the increasing trend towards digital borrowing?
I have published new work every year - 24 books across 23 years - but despite a constant stream of new releases my PLR peaked in 2016 ($6,500) and has been steadily falling ever since.
In contrast, my ELR has risen steadily to just over $7,000 in 2021. Most of my early work, which is still on the shelves in print format in school libraries, has been converted to ebook holdings in public libraries. The pandemic has seen an uptick in ebook sales to schools. I receive roughly the same royalty payment amount on an ebook sale as I do on a print book. Although it's lovely to see my work so heavily represented in library catalogues in both print and ebook formats, it's devastating to watch the erosion of my lending rights as my classic works are transformed into ebook format only.
How many of Kirsty’s books are held in digital format at her local library service?
Based on holdings at Yarra Regional Plenty libraries (11 branches) and a selection of Kirsty’s titles:
Bridie’s Fire - 2 out of 2 editions are in digital format (100%)
Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean - 2 out of 2 editions are in digital format (100%)
The Year it all Ended - 1 out of 2 editions are in digital format (50%)
The Four Seasons of Lucy McKenzie - 2 out of 2 editions are in digital format (100%)
India Dark - 3 out of 3 editions are in digital format (100%)
A Prayer for Blue Delaney - 2 out of 2 editions are in digital format (100%)
Why is it essential that the Government modernises the criteria for lending rights to include digital copies?
Since 1975, lending rights has made it possible for generations of Australian writers and illustrators to invest in their creative work. Without digital lending rights, the value of lending rights is going to steadily erode. Thousands of young Australian writers may never have the opportunity to dedicate their time and energy to create future classics of Australian literature.
Read our previous interview with author Nick Earls here.
What can you do?
Share the ASA's DLR campaign with your networks and help us to raise awareness of this important issue.
You can also write to your local MP to request the expansion of the lending right schemes. You can use our sample letter here.
If you haven't already, consider joining the ASA. The ASA's lobbying efforts in Canberra would not be possible without our members' support. The more voters we can show we represent, the clearer our voice will be heard by the politicians with the power to make change.
Alternatively, if you're already a member or prefer to contribute without joining the ASA, you can donate to our Endowment Fund. Donations to the Endowment Fund go directly towards supporting the ASA to lobby and campaign for the rights and professional interests of authors and illustrators.
Keep up-to-date with ASA advocacy, support and advice
with our fortnightly newsletter.
