Libraries have historically played a crucial role in enabling education, research, and broad access to culture. Yet what has long held true for physical books – the rights to purchase, lend, and preserve – is being threatened in the digital environment.
These rights are no longer guaranteed because of licensing practices in eBook markets. This is putting into question the very nature and future of libraries. This Pledge aims to bring together the voices across the publishing industry who value libraries and stand ready to protect them by agreeing to some basic guarantees. Without these, the provision of access to eBooks through libraries will be even more unsustainable than it is today.
This Pledge has been prepared in the context of the Knowledge Rights 21 Programme, with the engagement of the Authors’ Alliance and Library Futures. These are all organisations that work to promote constructive relationships and the upholding of mutual interests between libraries and publishers in the eBook space, as well as to uphold the interest authors have in reaching new readers.
Signatures on the Pledge will help show that progress is possible under current licensing frameworks – you can see who has signed on our pledgers’ section. We welcome signatures from publishers and publishing organisations.
In order to sign the pledge, or if you have any questions please contact info@knowledgerights21.org
