Event Report: “Making Copyright Work for Libraries and Consumers'”

From an IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations) Summary of the Event:

On Wednesday 30th May IFLA, along with the European Bureau of Library Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA), Electronic Information For Libraries (eIFL), Informations Sans Frontières (ISF), Copyright for Creativity (C4C), the European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC), and Consumers International (CI) organised a one-day event at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The event focused on the role of libraries in providing access to cultural works, and how copyright can be made more consumer-friendly in the digital age. In the audience were Members of the European Parliament, European Commission staff, and European librarians, consumer organizations, NGOs and trade associations.
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The morning focused on libraries with a session titled “Index or footnote? How to ensure that libraries power the information society”. The Chair of IFLA’s FAIFE Committee and National Librarian of Finland Kai Ekholm gave a keynote presentation on the challenges of the new book economy for libraries, addressing such issues as eBook lending, monopolies in the publishing sector, and the need for new funding and market solutions to let libraries carry out their function in the digital age. With the scene set, representatives from IFLA, EBLIDA, ISF and the Danish Library Union then participated in a panel discussion aimed at explaining why libraries could be helped by updated copyright limitations and exceptions which can cope with today’s digital environment.

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Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Funding, Libraries, News, Publishing