IFLA and E-Lending

Libraries have been supplying access to digital content to their users for over two decades. Until recently, this content largely consisted of access to cumulative databases of journals, newspapers, popular magazines and technical and specialized monographs. Nonetheless, the current escalation in accessibility and popularity of e-Readers and tablets, along with an equivalent escalation in the availability of commercial eBooks, has seen a growing demand for downloadable e-Books in public libraries.

This setting presents libraries numerous opportunities. The accessibility of digital content, downloadable onsite at the library or distantly through online catalogues, has the capability to expand a digital culture of reading that will profit patrons, authors and publishers. On the other hand, the existing state of affairs facing libraries is anything but optimistic. There are at the moment many complexities, as downloadable e-Books increase an assortment of technical, legal and strategic problems in which are leading to apprehension, to perplexity and to frustration for libraries and their patrons, publishers and authors.

IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations, has created a background paper setting out these struggles in full. Following the papers, IFLA issued Principle for Library e-Lending to aid librarians globally to approach the issue with prepared guidance.

http://www.ifla.org/