E-lending
Handbook on comparative e-lending policies in Europe
A report prepared by EBLIDA EGIL
(Expert Group on Information Law)
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.
The full version of the document is available here.
First European Overview on E-lending in Public Libraries
An Interim Report prepared by EBLIDA EGIL (Expert Group on Information Law)
Country profiles and Summary Tables
(June 2022)
[ PDF ]
![]() |
EBLIDA is laying the foundation for “sustainable copyright" in public libraries through the publication of the “First European overview on e-lending in public libraries”. Carried out by the EBLIDA EGIL (Expert Group on Information Law) Group, the overview is based on a questionnaire transmitted to a network of experts including both EGIL members and experts suggested by NAPLE and the EBLIDA Executive Committee |
The geographic scope of the study is restricted to nine countries. These countries were selected in accordance with several criteria: a prosperous book and e-book trade (Germany, France, Spain, Italy), a limited book trade with high level of digital literacy (e.g. Nordic countries), and countries where an e-book trade has never really taken off (Romania or Greece).
“With this Overview EBLIDA intends to pursue the objective of examining the independence of the e-book library trade and library acquisitions on national economic factors, legal constraints and institutional requirements”, says Ton van Vlimmeren, EBLIDA President.
This is only the first step in a series of more extensive activity on e-lending which “will have a follow up in-length, in width, and in-depth”, adds Giuseppe Vitiello, EBLIDA Director. In the near future, EBLIDA intends to enlarge the Overview to more countries (in-length), examine particular aspects of e-lending models and business models (in-width); and find the appropriate arguments to advocate for libraries at European level (in depth).
NEWS
European Parliament Hearing:
22 March 2023: The future of the European book sector Read more >Press Release: Handbook on comparative e-lending policies in Europe
16 March 2023: Published now by the EBLIDA EGIL Group of Experts. (Expert Group on Information Law). Read more >EBLIDA Newsletter March 2023
09 March 2023: Read about Library Legislation and E-Lending Policy in Europe, E-Relevance, RL:EU, A new tool for Partnership Matching for EU-funded Projects, Sustainable Development and Libraries and more... Read more >EBLIDA Newsletter February 2023
15 February 2023: Are you willing to help us, so we can support you best? And information on EBLIDA Conference. Read more >EBLIDA sends condolences to Türkiye and Syria
10 February 2023: Our hearts and minds are with those affected. Read more >