Press Release: Handbook on comparative e-lending policies in Europe

16 March 2023

 

A report prepared by EBLIDA EGIL
(Expert Group on Information Law)
2023

 

EBLIDA is very pleased to release the “Handbook on comparative e-lending policies in Europe”, published by the EBLIDA EGIL Group of Experts.

This Handbook overhauls current stereotypes about e-lending. The studies and investigations quoted in the Handbook demonstrate that e-lending in libraries is a formidable instrument for promoting e-books.Results may be short of sensational: when promoted by libraries, an individual title may see a 818% growth in e-book sales and 201% growth in print sales. The number of e-lending transactions, measured in relation to the number of inhabitants, also shows that the market for e-loan transactions is now dramatically low and has to make great strides for the benefit of all actors in the e-book value chain.

The number of e-lending transactions, measured in relation to the number of inhabitants, also shows that the market for e-loan transactions is now dramatically low and has to make great strides for the benefit of all actors in the e-book value chain. It is now from 10 to 100 times lower than the number of book loans and in some cases, like in France, 400 times less.

“If e-lending transactions remain so low, how can the general rate of digital literacy increase? Through which resources can a Europe that is smarter, more connected, more social and closer to its citizens enhance its penetration among an alerted citizenship?”, asks Ton van Vlimmeren, President EBLIDA.

The “Handbook on comparative e-lending policies in Europe” is divided into three parts:

• PART I. includes a set of Recommendations for the European Commission, national and local authorities and e-book professionals. Giuseppe Vitiello, Director EBLIDA, is the author of the background document to the Recommendations.
• PART II. includes the Background documents.
• PART III. includes 13 Country profiles.

Please download the Recommendations, the Background documents, and the Country Profiles.

The full version of the document is available here.

Ends

Notes to editor:

EBLIDA is the community and networking hub for all library, information and documentation associations and institutions in Europe striving towards a sustainable, democratic and equitable society.

For more information:

EBLIDA:  Giuseppe Vitiello, Director of EBLIDA: G.Vitiello@eblida.org

 

 

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