Why the Wait? The Hidden Truth about eBooks & eAudiobooks

Have you ever wondered why you have to wait for a library eBook? It should be available instantly, right? We understand why this is confusing. Here’s how it works behind the scenes!

Libraries License Most eBooks — We Don’t Own Them

When you buy an eBook from Amazon, you own it forever. However, in most cases, libraries can only license eBooks from publishers. This means:

• Publishers—not libraries—set the terms, which are expensive and restrictive.
• With a higher cost per title, library budgets may not always allow for more than one copy of an eBook.
• Some publishers may not allow libraries to license certain titles at all even though they may be available to consumers.

High Costs and Strict Limits

Libraries don’t pay the same price as consumers. Publishers charge libraries much more for eBooks and often place limits on how long we can use them. Common models include:

After that, the license expires—and we have to buy it again at the same high price. On average, an eBook or audiobook costs the Library nearly three times what a consumer pays.

Demand Keeps Growing

Since 2021, digital checkouts at the Library have increased by 72%. To keep up with that demand, we’ve been dedicating a larger portion of our budget to digital materials. In 2025, 32% of our collections budget supported digital content, helping reduce average wait times by 10 days. Even with these efforts, rising demand and rising costs continue to create challenges. That’s why we’re grateful to the Friends of Glenview Public Library, who recently donated $25,000 to help expand our Lucky Day eBook and eAudiobook collection in 2026.

How You Can Help Stretch eBook Dollars

Small actions make a big difference! While using Libby, try these tips:

• Return early if you finish before your due date.
• Suspend your hold if you’re not ready—keep your place in line.
• Cancel your holds if you no longer need them. Help the Library better gauge demand and keep the hold line moving.
• Check Libby’s Lucky Day collection for instant, no-wait titles.

If an eBook has a long wait, don't be discouraged—those estimates may be longer than the actual wait. When there's demand and the budget allows, we add more copies to help shorten wait times.