Libraries are the “great equalizers in our society,” Cranston Public Library Director Ed Garcia said Tuesday morning – a place where all people, regardless of their economic status, can freely access books and other materials for education and enjoyment.

“Access to information and access to reading should not be dependent on your ability to pay for it,” he said during a press event held at the Cranston Public Library’s Central Library on Sockanosset Cross Road.

He was flanked by other library leaders and elected officials, all of whom say a recent move by Macmillan Publishing – one of the so-called “big five” publishing companies – runs counter to that core tenant at the heart of the public library system by limiting access to electronic materials.

Now, their shared objective is to push back through state legislation and a public outreach campaign.

“We’re here today because big publishing has put Rhode Islanders’ free, fair and equitable access to state libraries at risk,” said Julie Holden, assistant director of Cranston’s libraries and president of the Rhode Island Library Association. “Big publishing, and particularly Macmillan Publishing, has targeted libraries and created unfair and unconstitutional restrictions on how and when public libraries can purchase e-books.”

In November of last year, Macmillan instituted a new “embargo” policy that limits libraries to the acquisition of a single license for an electronic copy of a new title during the first eight weeks following its release. Following that eight-week period, libraries may acquire an unlimited number of two-year licenses for titles.

Macmillian’s move, Holden said, “puts Rhode Island at a disproportionate risk of being harmed.”

She noted through the Ocean State Library consortium, residents are able to borrow materials through any of the state’s public libraries. Under Macmillan’s new restriction, that in effect means just a single electronic license for a new title can be purchased for all of Rhode Island’s libraries during the initial “embargo” period.

“Because of our unique situation in Rhode Island, that means that we have one license for the entire state,” she said. “Could you imagine a scenario where one million potential library users had to share a single hard copy of the latest best-seller? MacMillan’s policy is unfair.”

Holden also noted that libraries pay up to four times as much for e-book licenses as typical consumers do for electronic titles.

Opposition to Macmillan’s move goes far beyond the Ocean State. RILA has joined the #eBooksForAll campaign, which seeks reversal of the company’s policy and restoration of “full access to its complete e-book catalog.” An online petition has gathered more than 250,000 signatures.

Alan Inouye, senior director of public policy for the American Library Association, traveled from Washington, D.C., to attend Tuesday’s event. He said Connecticut’s state libraries and statewide associations in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts have all been actively critical of the publishing company’s “embargo” policy, while library leaders in places like Seattle and Los Angeles have also been vocal on the matter.

“There’s been a lot of national pushback on this whole issue … We see a strong national partnership at the federal, state and local levels that’s really necessary to fight this kind of egregious policy that’s harmful to our communities,” he said.

Offering particular praise for RILA, he added: “[Rhode Island is] the smallest state, but it’s the No. 1 state on library advocacy on equitable access for information across the country. It’s been an incredibly strong showing, fighting for the public interest.”

This issue has been on the radar of U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, who took part in a recent RILA roundtable discussion on e-book access at East Providence’s Weaver Library. Cicilline chairs the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, and said in a statement following the roundtable that he is “particularly interested in potentially anticompetitive practices harming libraries and their users, especially in Rhode Island.”

Other elected officials have taken notice as well. State Rep. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) took part in the recent roundtable and was on hand for Tuesday’s event to announce his introduction of legislation in the General Assembly aimed at ending what he called an “unfair” practice by Macmillan.

Specifically, McKenney said, his legislation would prohibit publishers from limiting e-book licenses for libraries and make them available at the same time titles are released for sale to the public. The proposal would additionally require publishing companies to offer libraries “reasonable terms on e-books and digital audiobooks.”

“The average citizen needs his library, her library,” McKenney said. “It’s critical.”

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung and Citywide Councilman Ken Hopkins were also on hand for Tuesday’s event. Fung said Hopkins plans to submit a City Council resolution of support for McKenney’s legislation.

“Any type of limitation, whether it’s in Cranston or any library system throughout Rhode Island or across the country, is plain wrong,” Fung said. “We’ve got to send a message. That’s why I’m here today.”

Holden previously said e-books represent 13 percent of overall library circulation statewide, with the Cranston and Warwick systems being the largest users of e-books.

She and Garcia said access to electronic materials is especially important for library patrons with physical limitations or a lack of access to transportation. Being able to read on a tablet or similar device, they added, can be particularly helpful for older readers or people with dyslexia.

“The introduction of e-books has allowed libraries in every city and town to be even more accessible to more people – low-income Rhode Islanders, Rhode Islanders with disabilities and older Rhode Islanders,” Holden said.

“[Publishing companies’] greed is harming the ability of libraries to help the people that need it the most – the economically disadvantaged and those with accessibility and mobility difficulties,” Garcia added.

According to a press release from Tuesday’s event RILA plans to continue discussions with Cicilline and members of the attorney general’s office “to discuss Macmillan’s potential violations of Rhode Island’s constitutional rights.”

“In the weeks ahead, RILA will continue to speak out and inform library users about Macmillan’s and Big Publishing’s unfair and unconstitutional practice,” the release reads. “Through their outreach, RILA aims to inspire a broad coalition to take a range of actions blocking Macmillan’s and other publishers’ unfair practices directed toward libraries.”

Holden said as part of the effort, the organization will reach out to other municipal leaders to seek support for McKenney’s legislation and the #eBooksForAll campaign.

“In the weeks ahead, the Rhode Island Library Association will continue to raise our voice on this issue … E-books are not a luxury,” she said. “They are a core component of our catalog. And as the librarians who live and work in communities across Rhode Island, we will not sit quietly as MacMillan aims to take away the access from our communities.”