Roundtable Recommends Guidelines for E-Lending in Public Libraries
October 30, 2024 – The German Federal Government has announced that a roundtable discussion has reached a consensus on recommendations for e-lending in public libraries. The recommendations aim to establish fair and equitable conditions for e-lending, addressing concerns raised by authors, publishers, and libraries.
Key Points of the Recommendations
- A uniform pricing model: The recommendations advocate for a standardized pricing model for e-lending, ensuring transparency and predictability for authors and publishers.
- Fair compensation: Authors and publishers should be fairly compensated for the lending of their works, with factors such as the number of loans and the length of the lending period taken into account.
- Increased library funding: Public libraries require additional funding to cover the costs associated with e-lending, including infrastructure upgrades and the purchase of e-books.
- Support for independent authors and publishers: The recommendations emphasize the importance of supporting independent authors and publishers by providing accessible e-lending platforms and encouraging libraries to diversify their collections.
- Protection of intellectual property rights: The guidelines stress the importance of protecting authors’ intellectual property rights, including measures to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of e-books.
Statement from Culture Minister Roth
Culture Minister Claudia Roth welcomed the recommendations, stating that they represent “an important step towards fair framework conditions for e-lending.” Roth emphasized the need for a balance between supporting public libraries and ensuring fair compensation for authors and publishers.
Background
E-lending has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering readers convenient access to books and other materials. However, the lack of a standardized framework for e-lending has led to concerns from authors and publishers about inadequate compensation and the potential for copyright infringement.
Next Steps
The recommendations will now be submitted to the German Bundestag for further discussion and potential implementation into law. The government hopes that the guidelines will foster a thriving e-lending ecosystem that meets the needs of both readers and creators.
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Die Bundesregierung a new article on 2024-10-30 12:13 titled “Runder Tisch einigt sich auf Empfehlungen zum E-Lending in öffentlichen Bibliotheken – Kulturstaatsministerin Roth: “Wichtiger Schritt für faire Rahmenbedingungen beim E-Lending””. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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