License to Read Act Summary

• Authorizes the State Librarian to negotiate with e-book and e-audiobook publishers on behalf of Illinois libraries to acquire licenses on reasonable terms for providing digital content to patrons.

• Establishes that reasonable license terms must specify the number of simultaneous users, access duration, and technological protections to prevent unauthorized access or sharing beyond the license period.

• Allows the State Librarian to award grants to develop, expand, or support the acquisition of and access to e-books and e-audiobooks throughout Illinois libraries.

• Creates the License to Read Fund in the State Treasury to receive and expend fees, donations, and grants from federal and other sources for implementing the Act's purposes.

• Amends the State Library Act to include electronic resources sharing and digital platform expansion among the State Library's purposes and to supply electronic resources to the fullest extent possible to all authorized library users.