E-books in libraries campaign

Information

During its 20th Annual Conference in Copenhagen on 11 May 2012, EBLIDA launched the first step of its European Campaign for e-books in Libraries. With this campaign, EBLIDA aims to draw the attention of politicians and citizens of the European Union both to the risks and threats at stake for libraries and their patrons (therefore also to the citizens) with the current situation in the volatile market of e-books in which libraries have very few rights.

Presentations

(February 2013)

• Klaus-Peter Böttger (EBLIDA President), E-Books. A global challenge: Europe
• Vincent Bonnet (EBLIDA Director), E-Books in libraries. A European Campaign by EBLIDA

The other presentations are available at: http://www.cilip.org.uk/ifla-mlas-seminar2013/pages/presentations.aspx

Key principles

(November 2012)

• EBLIDA Key Principles on the acquisition of and access to E-books by libraries
• also available in: German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish

Campaign Leaflets

(August 2012)

• English version
• French version

Information paper

(July 2012)

• EBLIDA Information paper

Position paper

(May 2012)

• European Libraries and the challenges of e-publishing
• also available in Bulgarian, Czech, Croatian, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Montenegrin, Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish.

Aims of the campaign

Libraries have to find ways to create and ensure attractive services in this new media environment and ever changing market, while e-books will become increasingly relevant for libraries.But it appears that at the moment the collection building policy may be decided by the publishers and not by the library, which could mean a threat to access to information, and by extension to democracy.Until now, the different components of the book chain always found ways to work together.

Because of the shift to the digital environment, some of the links in this book chain are willing to be removed, thereby posing a threat to libraries and hindering them in their abilities to fulfill their missions, by refusing to make e-books available to the public through library websites, or proposing inadequate offers and inappropriate digital "lending" models.

EBLIDA believes that the book chain must incorporate and support cultural and economic diversity. Only a rich ecosystem with strong libraries as representatives of public structures working co-operatively with private suppliers like publishers, booksellers, web aggregators and authors, can ensure a wealthy supply of digital content to every citizen of Europe.

To tackle these challenges, EBLIDA published several papers (available at the top of this page) and is constantly updating information.

EBLIDA Task Force

EBLIDA set up a Task Force under the lead of Mr. Gerald Leitner.

Its mission is to monitor the current developments, following-up on the campaign, keeping in contact with experts and communicate information to members.

The Campaign in 3 Steps:

1. Until October 2012:

1. Publication of the Position Paper and the information Paper;
2. Translation of the Position Paper in every European language;
3. Collection of the pitfalls and success stories in Europe on the topic;
4. Establishment of the Task Force;
5. Follow up with the European Union Commission on the survey on European Libraries and e-books;
6. Begin meetings with the Federation of European Publishers.

2. From October to Spring 2013:

1. Follow-up on meetings with the Federation of European Publishers;
2. Organise meeting with the Member of the European Parliament;
3. Organise meetings in specific regional areas in Europe with local and national representatives in charge of those questions.

3. 21st EBLIDA, Council, 1st week of May 2013:

1. First set of achievement;
2. Next propositions.

Donate!

Our goal is to raise fund in support of the European campaign for ebooks in libraries. The fund will be invested in the specific program detailed in the above Campaign.

Please support EBLIDA fill the Donation Form and send it back:

• by post to: EBLIDA Secretariat, Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5, 2595 BE The Hague, The Netherlands
• or by email to: eblida@eblida.org

EBLIDA thanks you for your interest in supporting its action!

For any information please contact Majella Cunnane at +31 (0)7031 40 136 or Vincent Bonnet at +31 (0)7031 40 137.

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