Irish Examiner view: Libraries struggling to cope with consumer demand for ebooks and audiobooks

Rising prices and restrictive licensing terms is having an affect on more than 40% of the national collection of ebook titles

Hard copy books are exempt from Vat, while digital copies are subject to a 4% rate. Something that needs to change.

Ireland’s first public library opened in 1707 during what became known as the “Age of Enlightenment”.

There are now 330 branches across 31 local authorities, and over 30 mobile libraries.