The Avid eReader (Archived)

It's a valid question! It's not as if eBooks are subject to the limits of space and time the way physical books are. But there are reasons to limit the availability of eBooks. Basically, it boils down to the tragedy of the commons – the public needs to read, but authors and publishers need to make a living, too. Since eBooks are a relatively new technology, libraries and publishers are still trying to figure out the most equitable and sustainable way to make them available to library patrons. 

Our fearless acquisitions librarian, Maria (who is responsible for purchasing all our many varieties of wonderful eContent) explained it well in Toronto Public Library's Ask Me Anything chat on Reddit: 

"…the restrictions have to do with licensing. There are various lending models set by the eBook publishers. Most offer a "one copy, one user model" rather than the simultaneous access model. That means that we have to purchase multiple "copies" of popular ebooks. For example, last year we purchased 350 copies of "Girl on a Train' because that eBook had so many holds. Publishers would not see any profits if they allowed libraries to purchase a single copy of a book and allowed unlimited access to that single copy. The publishing industry is delicate ecosystem and libraries, publishers and bookstores all have to work together for the common good."

It's worth noting that we do monitor the number of holds on an item, and try to make sure that supply matches up to demand. In fact, there's a computer program that works overnight to automatically tally up holds – it orders more copies of items that see a sudden surge in popularity (for example, if they win an award or receive a good review). Still, some books can't be topped up – for example, books that are no longer available for purchase, or books on pre-order that haven't been published yet. 

So there's your answer. Still, good things come to those who wait.