Yesterday Penguin revealed that they will no longer offer eBooks to libraries through OverDrive, “due to new concerns about the security of our digital editions.”

Meanwhile, librarians around the country have debated the issue. San Rafael Public Library acting director Sarah Houghton posted a free sign in Google Docs for librarians to share with patrons. We’ve embedded the pointed sign above–what do you think?

Here’s more from the library’s blog: “Sadly, unlike a regular person, a library cannot pay Amazon or Barnes & Noble for an eBook and then lend it out to people.  We can buy a printed book from these companies, stick it on the shelf, and lend it out–but digital content is treated differently by the publishers and the companies who manage digital content licensing.  We desperately want to offer you these eBooks. But the companies won’t let us.  As your library, we commit to continuing advocacy for change in these policies.”

Here is the complete text of the sign:

These publishers currently refuse to sell or license eBooks to libraries:

• Macmillan Publishing
• Simon & Schuster
• Penguin Group
• Brilliance Audio
• Hachette Book Group

Think that’s wrong? We do too. Learn more at [this link]

You can also write to or call each publisher to register your opinion. For your convenience, the addresses are provided below.

Macmillan Publishing
75 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 226-7521
customerservice@mpsvirginia.com

Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
(212) 698-7000
http://simonandschuster.com/about/contact_us

Hachette Book Group
466 Lexington Avenue #131
New York, NY 10017
(212) 364-1100
customer.service@hbgusa.com

Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 366-2000
ecommerce@us.penguingroup.com

Brilliance Audio
1704 Eaton Drive
Grand Haven, MI 49417
(616) 846-5256
libsales@brillianceaudio.com