Libraries Struggle to Meet Digital Demand | Durham News

North Carolina libraries are drowning in demand for blockbuster books like “Yesteryear,” with waitlists stretching into the thousands—both for physical and digital copies. E-books and audiobooks, which cost up to three times more than print editions and come with restrictive licenses, are hitting a breaking point, especially in fast-growing areas like Wake County and Charlotte. Since the pandemic, library usage has surged nationwide, straining budgets already stretched thin by rising populations and digital resource costs. Libraries are scrambling with creative workarounds like “Lucky Day Collections,” but without better licensing deals from publishers, access to popular reads remains out of reach for many. The goal? A win-win: more readers, more stories—and fairer pricing for everyone. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d8c254b1ffb6114e