ALA Asks Random to Scale Back Price Hikes – Publisher’s Weekly – Andrew Albanese

While ALA president Molly Raphael praised Random House’s “engagement with libraries and its commitment to perpetual access,” she urged Random House to scale back the price increase. “I am deeply disappointed in the severe escalation in e-book pricing,” Raphael said. “The American Library Association strongly urges Random House to reconsider its decision. In a time of extreme financial constraint, a major price increase effectively curtails access for many libraries, and especially our communities that are hardest hit economically.”

In response, Stuart Applebaum, spokesman for Random House, said the publisher welcomes “continuing discussions on the value we place on the unrestricted perpetuity, as well as the simultaneous release of our titles to retail booksellers and public libraries, the key differentiating factors determining our new pricing to library wholesalers.”

Remember last week’s news on Random House increasing e-book prices? Here’s the conversation between ALA and Random House.