If you’ve ever tried to borrow an ebook and seen 10, 20, or even 50 people ahead of you, you’re not alone. One of the most frequent questions I hear is: “Why are the ebook holds lists so long? Can’t the library just add another copy?” The answer is more complicated than it seems.
Unlike a print book, which we buy once and lend until it wears out, ebooks are sold to libraries under strict licensing contracts with publishers. Some licenses allow only a handful of checkouts before they expire. For example, a publisher may restrict a book to just eight uses before the library has to pay for it again. Others are sold under a “one copy, one user” model, the equivalent of waiting for someone to return their print book before you can check it out.
On top of that, ebooks are expensive. A hardcover print book might cost the library $20, but the digital version could be $75 for a two-year license. Audiobooks are even pricier, sometimes more than $100 for a single copy that also expires after two years — this high cost especially challenging for libraries.
At Josephine Community Library, we offer digital titles through a service called OverDrive, which we provide in partnership with other Oregon libraries through the Oregon Digital Library Consortium. By pooling resources, dozens of libraries share one large digital collection, keeping costs manageable and expanding options for patrons.
The easiest way to checkout ebooks is through the free OverDrive app called Libby. Download it to your phone, tablet, or Kindle Fire, sign in with your library card, and you’ll have instant access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks. You can place holds, set up alerts, and even tag titles we don’t yet own using the “Notify Me” feature. You can also log in through the OverDrive website and read or listen on a computer.
If you see a long waitlist, don’t be discouraged. Our library participates in a program called Advantage, which lets us purchase extra copies of popular titles just for Josephine County residents. When you place a hold, you automatically move up the line for those copies. We also add new ones when waitlists get too long. While the line may look daunting, your turn often comes faster than you expect.
The numbers tell the story. Ebook borrowing at Josephine Community Library increases every year — from about 51,000 checkouts in 2020 to nearly 62,000 in 2025. In June and July, we set new records, surpassing even the pandemic peak. The most popular titles this past year? The Women by Kristin Hannah (ebook) and Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (audiobook).
National trends mirror what we see locally. According to the Association of American Publishers, ebook revenues in the U.S. rose nearly 3 percent in 2024, reaching $861.9 million. Digital audiobooks grew even faster, surging 26 percent to $883.4 million. At the same time, print continues to dominate — outselling ebooks about four to one, according to TonerBuzz. The statistical database Statista reports that ebook sales first spiked in 2013, dipped, then rose sharply during the pandemic with a 22 percent jump.
If you don’t find the book you want in Libby, you can ask us to buy it. Submit a request at josephinelibrary.org/catalog/request-an-item, and we’ll consider it under our collection policy. Requests for book clubs are welcome too, although we ask for at least two months’ notice so there’s time to order and process.
For readers who enjoy classics, Project Gutenberg is another option. This volunteer-run website at gutenberg.org offers more than 75,000 free ebooks, including titles in the public domain such as Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Borrowing ebooks isn’t always seamless — downloads can fail or licenses expire without warning. But help is never far away. Our staff can walk you through setup and also help troubleshoot your device. Or, if you’d like to learn in a group setting, join us on Friday, August 29 from 10:30–11:30 a.m. at the Illinois Valley branch for a free ebook workshop.
So the next time you’re stuck on a long ebook hold list, remember — it isn’t because the library doesn’t want to buy more. It’s because the publishing industry limits how ebooks are sold to libraries. Even with those hurdles, borrowing grows every year — proof that digital books are now an essential part of public library service.
Pro Tips for Borrowing Library Ebooks
- Download the free Libby app. Sign in with your library card to borrow ebooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere.
- Always place the hold. Each hold signals demand, and when a title has more than six holds, we often buy another copy.
- Use “Notify Me.” If a book isn’t in the catalog, tag it in Libby so we know you’d like us to purchase it.
- Be patient with waitlists. Behind the scenes, Advantage copies move Josephine County residents up faster than it may look.
- Need help? Join our free ebook workshop on Friday, August 29, 10:30–11:30 a.m. at the Illinois Valley branch for hands-on assistance.
BY KATE LASKY
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GRANTS PASS DAILY COURIER | August 2025