An Act addressing challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections

This bill (SD 2329) prohibits publishers from including contract terms that prevent libraries from sharing license details with others or compromise patron privacy. It also establishes a special commission to study digital resource costs, patron privacy concerns, and access challenges in public libraries. The commission will examine how digital licensing differs from print materials, research privacy practices, and compare approaches used by other states. Its findings and recommendations - due by October 2025 - aim to support library sustainability, improve public access to digital resources, and protect user data. The bill directly affects public libraries, publishers, and library patrons in Massachusetts.