Open letter calls for ‘investigation of academic publishing industry’ | Research Information

"A group of UK-based academic librarians, researchers, university lecturers and students has called on the government to investigate the academic publishing industry over its pricing and licensing practices regarding ebooks.

The letter states: ‘The Covid-19 pandemic – where students and researchers have not been able to physically visit libraries and access paper books – has brought the many market issues regarding ebooks sharply into focus, as ebooks have become our only purchase option. As lockdown began in March we observed students borrowing as much of the print material that they needed as possible, but as libraries shut academic librarians then did their best to source digital versions. ..."