Welcoming EBSCO: A major step towards Open and Accessible Digital Reading

We are delighted to announce that EBSCO has joined the EDRLab community, marking a significant milestone in our mission to create an open, accessible, and secure digital reading environment for publishers, libraries and their patrons. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to removing barriers to digital content access and developing solutions that respect both users and institutions.

EBSCO has recently implemented the Readium LCP DRM solution on its eBook platform—an open, vendor-neutral standard developed by EDRLab. You can read more about their launch in EBSCO Rolls Out New DRM Solution for Libraries, which details how this change benefits libraries and readers alike. They also shared further insights in EBSCO Adopts New DRM Solution to Enhance Library Services, explaining the motivation behind moving away from legacy DRM systems.

By adopting LCP, EBSCO is taking a significant step away from restrictive legacy DRM systems and towards a more user-friendly and future-ready approach. This means libraries can provide a smoother reading experience, free from unnecessary hurdles such as mandatory external accounts, while still ensuring robust content protection.

This transition also places a strong emphasis on accessibility. Readium LCP was designed with inclusivity at its core, ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies and making it easier for all readers to enjoy digital content without friction. For libraries, this adoption represents not only a technical enhancement but also a renewed focus on delivering equitable access to knowledge.

“I’m thrilled that we’re moving to a modern, ever-improving DRM system… bringing meaningful improvements in accessibility and ease of use.”
— Emma Waecker, Director of Product Management for EBSCO eBooks

At EDRLab, we believe that open standards are essential for building a sustainable and interoperable digital reading ecosystem. Welcoming EBSCO into our network strengthens this vision and paves the way for broader collaboration that will benefit libraries, publishers, and readers worldwide.

For libraries and partners considering modernising their digital lending services, this is a strong example of how embracing open, non-proprietary technologies can unlock better access for everyone. We look forward to working closely with EBSCO as they continue to implement LCP across their platforms and services.

Welcome, EBSCO, to the EDRLab community.