We are a group of academic librarians, researchers and university lecturers who have compiled an open letter asking the UK government to urgently investigate the academic publishing industry over its ebook pricing and licensing practices.
The current situation is not working and it needs to change. Librarians are increasingly unable to provide the resources students, lecturers and researchers need. We call on all impacted by the deeply flawed ebook publishing industry to add your names to our open letter. In the first instance, with support from Alex Chalk MP for Cheltenham, it will be delivered to the the Chair of the Education Select Committee and we will endeavour to bring the letter to the attention of other relevant government ministers and public bodies. You can help by also bringing it to the attention of your own MP.
If you are from outside the UK, please feel free to copy our letter and to use it to lobby your leaders to do the same. This is a global issue impacting us all in the Higher Education sector.

Update 20/11/2020 We were disappointed to be told by the Education Select Committee that they do not have the capacity to undertake this review. For as long as we continue to be unable to provide books for our students to access, we do not have the option of giving up and so have now taken the matter up with the Competition and Markets Authority

Johanna Anderson, Subject Librarian