How Controlled Digital Lending Works for Libraries

Chris Freeland, Director of Open Libraries, has communicated with ReadersFirst about a series of webinars on Controlled Digital Lending:

“How Controlled Digital Lending Works for Libraries

Please join Chris Freeland, Director of Open Libraries, from Internet Archive for an overview of how controlled digital lending [CDL] works. Attendees will learn how Internet Archive acquires books; how they are scanned in our scanning centers; how they are made available to blind and print disabled patrons; how they are made available to readers one-at-a-time via controlled digital lending; and how they are connected to Wikipedia and other resources.

The session will also cover how libraries can join the Open Libraries program to provide access to these books for their patrons, as well as how Open Libraries can be used to make decisions about physical collections.

Sessions are scheduled into August. Register now at http://openlibraries.online/learn/ “

RF encourages participation by librarians who are not familiar with CDL or who might like a refresher. CDL is a vital tool for circulating library titles that may not otherwise be available digitally and will be an increasingly important tool moving forward.

Internet Archive Digital Library Update 7/6/20

While it defends itself against a lawsuit launched by 4 publishers aiming to stifle a long-standing practice, the Internet Archive and its Open Library continues to evolve, as noted in a release from yesterday:

Premier Religious School Donates Quarter of a Million Volumes to Internet Archive. Scholars will soon have online access to 250,000 research volumes from a premier theological school, thanks to a donation from the Claremont School of Theology. Strengths of the collection include Comparative Theology and Philosophy, Feminist Theology, and Afro-Carribean spirituality. In addition to the 250,000 volumes, the library is donating its Ancient Biblical Manuscripts Collection, the world’s largest collection of images of ancient religious (Jewish and Christian, biblical and extra-biblical) manuscripts. Digitizing these collections will take significant time and resources, but will provide access to materials that, in many cases, have never been published online. If you’d like to support this effort and you have the ability to do so, please consider donating.

Two Major Library Groups Join Chorus of Support for Controlled Digital Lending. Last week, two major library organizations affirmed their commitment to the longstanding and widespread library practice of digitizing physical books they own and lending out secured digital versions. Please join ARL, SPARC, and hundreds of libraries and librarians that support controlled digital lending by endorsing the position statement on controlled digital lending.

Libraries Are Updating for Today’s Digital Needs. Congress Needs to Clear the Way. John Bergmayer, Legal Director for Public Knowledge, has penned an essay urging Congress to “clarify that libraries should be as free to buy and lend books today as they have been for centuries.”

 Commercial Textbooks Present Challenges in a Virtual Environment. As an example of the issues described by Bergmayer above, University of Guelph Library has released a statement describing the challenges for libraries in meeting the needs of an online student body for Fall 2020. The lack of ebooks for textbooks disadvantages students—did you know that approximately 85% of existing course textbooks are unavailable to libraries in any format other than print?

The National Emergency Library is Dead and Controlled Digital Lending May be Next. Regarding the current lawsuit filed by publishers, Daniel Takash writes in The Captured Economy, "Most–if not all–of the arguments made with respect to the Open Library’s harms to publishers’ bottom lines can be made just as forcefully against traditional libraries."

Sign Up for New Webinars in July: How Controlled Digital Lending Works for Libraries. Join Chris Freeland, Director of Open Libraries at Internet Archive, for a new series of webinars outlining how controlled digital lending works. Sessions are scheduled through the end of July.

Don’t forget to keep up with updates from the Internet Archive team by following us on Twitter and visiting our website. 
 

Alan Inouye's July 6 Public Policy & Advocacy Update

RF is as always happy to share Mr. Inouye’s updates on ALA’s advocacy and general news of interest to library ebook aficianados, with thanks for his continuing efforts to keep us all current. The news about “Techopalooza” is especially intriguing. It is perhaps too much to hope, at least yet, for that libraries will see legislation to allow us to circulate ebooks as we circulate print, but perhaps the idea will at least surface!:

Free Webinar: Ready to Vote: Hosting National Voter Registration Day at Your Library, July 23, 3:00 p.m. eastern

https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rZFGGH-bQ4KyNVarfbmTDg

Sen. Reed and Rep. Levin introduce Library Stabilization Fund Act to provide $2 billion to IMLS for coronavirus recovery for the nation's libraries:  ALA’s press release; One-page bill summary; Twitter post (please RT); ALA’s action alert (please act); Rep. Levin’s announcement; Sen. Reed’s announcement

ALA joins comments of the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition to the FCC on unlicensed use of the 6 Ghz band. https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1279704128755765248

https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/106292701930754/PISC%20Comments_6%20GHz%20FNPRM_FinalAsFiled_062920.pdf

ALA is pleased to endorse (and ALA is in Majority Whip James E. Clyburn's news release) H.R. 7302 the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1275903855289647108

https://www.majoritywhip.gov/?press=clyburn-rural-broadband-task-force-and-house-democrats-introduce-accessible-affordable-internet-for-all-act

ALA joined letter led by Demand Progress & Lincoln Networks: More money for legislative branch is prudent. Especially to bolster capacity for research, technology (incl. remote access), & expertise.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/demandprogress/letters/Strengthening_the_Legislative_Branch_by_Increasing_its_302b_Allocation_2020-06-22.pdf

Comments of ALA & ACRL submitted to White House OSTP for Request for Information 85 FR 9488, Public Access Federally-Funded Research: Yes there should be immediate open access to taxpayer-funded research. Comments begin on p. 18.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1277885674960625665

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Open-Access-RFI-Comments-Reduced-5.pdf

Congrats to Ray Pun as new President-elect, Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) & incoming President Candice Mack. Ray & Candice are both members of ALA Policy Corps.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1279718335933042688

https://www.apalaweb.org/apala-executive-board-2020-2022-election-results/

NEWS AND ARTICLES

Senators Markey, Van Hollen, Bennet, and Hassan filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to enact their Emergency Educational Connections Act, providing $4 billion for internet access/devices via libraries & schools.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1278454898527539201

https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/NDAA%20Amendment%20E-Rate%20COVID1.pdf

ALA supports: Sen. Klobuchar Helms Senate Version of Clyburn Broadband Bill: S. 4131 was introduced. Includes the $5 billion for libraries/schools to provide home access to those without.

https://www.multichannel.com/news/sen-klobuchar-helms-senate-version-of-clyburn-broadband-bill

Kara Swisher reports: You can officially call it Techopalooza. Rep. David Cicilline has told me in an interview today the four CEOs of the most powerful tech companies in the world – Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon – have agreed to appear at a late July hearing on antitrust. Column coming!  ALA is optimistic that library eBooks will be included in the subsequent report from the House Judiciary Committee.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1278457602956038156

 While on eBooks… Big management reorg at Macmillan Publishers

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/83661-macmillan-forms-trade-management-committee-to-address-key-issues.html

Tribute to Carolyn Ashcraft, State Librarian of Arkansas, on her retirement -- in the Congressional Record, by Sen. John Boozman (R-AR).

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1276485349359980544

https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2020/6/22/senate-section/article/s3125-3?loclr=cga-search

Imagining the Museum’s Smaller Future:  Post-pandemic, art museums should consider the benefits of a more focused, intimate approach.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/imagining-the-museums-smaller-future-11593554230

'We're back in business': UK bookshops see sales soar. Well, a bit of hope for the future from across the pond.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1276843882936926210

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/23/were-back-in-business-uk-bookshops-see-sales-soar

COVID has changed our lives — buildings should change, too

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/503069-covid-has-changed-our-lives-buildings-should-change-too#.XvnjJQXeAbE.twitter

Bibliotheca Now also offers RBDigital Titles

Last week, Bibliotheca issued a press release touting their offerings of RBDigital content.

“We are very excited to be able to offer this exciting new content in cloudLibrary. The new collection includes over 10,000 Recorded Books and W.F. Howes titles as well as more than 1,300 Graphic Audio titles that have never before been available outside of Graphic Audio’s own website and app. These additions will be added to our existing catalogs of HighBridge, Tantor, and Gildan that we’ve sold for some time. All titles are compatible with SimplyE and offer libraries an excellent opportunity to refresh their collection during this time when so many are depending on digital media,” says Tom Mercer, Senior Vice President of Digital Products, bibliotheca.

The statements adds “RBmedia’s Recorded Books, Graphic Audio, and W.F. Howes content collections will be available for purchase under the one book/one user model within cloudLibrary by mid-July. Once titles are older than one year, they will automatically be available through the pay-per-use model.”

RF thanks Mr. Mercer for mention of the SimplyE app. SimplyE could already handle RBDigital content, and It is good to know that the titles will remain accessible on the “one app to rule them all” platform if licensed through Bibliotheca.

It would seem that KKR is equal opportunity when it comes to RBDigital content, with KKR-owned OverDrive having previously announced RBDigital content availability. RF is glad of it and hopes that KKR might offer the content through any library vendor that would like it, including the DPLA Exchange. Would it be too much to hope that the content might be available direct to SimplyE deploying libraries, which would not need a vendor app (and price cut) to deploy it? We could find a way to house it. Perhaps so. But, in the words of the old song, “Wouldn’t it be nice . . . “

Association of Research Libraries Urges End to Litigation against Internet Archive

The ARL has weighed in on the suit by 4 publishers against the Intern Archive, urging that the suit be abandoned. RF reiterates its support for Controlled Digital Lending and supports the ARL statement.

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) urges an end to the lawsuit against the Internet Archive filed early this month by four major publishers in the United States District Court Southern District of New York, especially now that the National Emergency Library (NEL) has closed two weeks earlier than originally planned.

For nearly 25 years, the Internet Archive (IA) has been a force for good by capturing the world’s knowledge and providing barrier-free access for everyone, contributing services to higher education and the public, including the Wayback Machine that archives the World Wide Web, as well as a host of other services preserving software, audio files, special collections, and more. Over the past four weeks, IA’s Open Library has circulated more than 400,000 digital books without any user cost—including out-of-copyright works, university press titles, and recent works of academic interest—using controlled digital lending (CDL). CDL is a practice whereby libraries lend temporary digital copies of print books they own in a one-to-one ratio of “loaned to owned,” and where the print copy is removed from circulation while the digital copy is in use. CDL is a practice rooted in the fair use right of the US Copyright Act and recent judicial interpretations of that right. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many academic and research libraries have relied on CDL (including IA’s Open Library) to ensure academic and research continuity at a time when many physical collections have been inaccessible.

As ARL and our partner library associations acknowledge, many publishers (including some involved in the lawsuit) are contributing to academic continuity by opening more content during this crisis. As universities and libraries work to ensure scholars and students have the information they need, ARL looks forward to working with publishers to ensure open and equitable access to information. Continuing the litigation against IA for the purpose of recovering statutory damages and shuttering the Open Library would interfere with this shared mutual objective.

A Press Release From OverDrive about RBmedia

Here is part of a press release from OverDrive, explaining that OD “will acquire RBmedia’s digital library business, specifically the RBdigital platform in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.”

RF noted that this was a possible outcome when the KKR buy out was first announced. RF withholds comment until we see the implementation and any changes that may occur with this event. Integrating platforms seems like a good idea, but competetion is never a bad thing for controlling costs.

Many of you know that KKR also owns RBmedia, a digital publishing business which includes Recorded Books and the RBdigital lending platform . . . .

Many libraries have told us that they would benefit from having Recorded Books and RBmedia content broadly available on the OverDrive platform and would welcome a reduction in the effort required to manage collection development and patron support on their digital platforms. With these goals in mind, OverDrive will acquire RBmedia’s digital library business, specifically the RBdigital platform in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

This means that over the coming months, all RBdigital library customers and RBdigital app users will be migrated to the OverDrive platform and Libby. We expect that the OverDrive platform will be enhanced with content that was unique to the RBdigital platform, including new Recorded Books audiobook releases, and we will be exploring additional content relationships such as digital magazines from ZINIO. After the customer and patron migration is complete, the RBdigital platform will be discontinued.

There will be no change to RBmedia’s market-leading publishing businesses which will continue to supply their titles to libraries and direct-to-consumer services worldwide. These brands include Recorded Books, Tantor Media, HighBridge, Kalorama Audio, ChristianAudio, Gildan Media, GraphicAudio, W.F. Howes in the United Kingdom, and Wavesound in Australia.

What this means to you

• If you are a customer of RBdigital, we are committed to keeping you well informed as we prepare to make this transition and as we continue to serve your patrons during this transition. Once the migration is complete, we will provide the same high quality experience and service now complemented with the new collections of titles from the RBdigital catalog. We will provide more details, including FAQs, as we get closer to the date of the initial migrations.

• If your library is not a customer of RBdigital, there will be no change to your OverDrive service. Once we make updates to OverDrive Marketplace, you will be alerted to the new collections of RBmedia content available for your collection on the OverDrive platform. What’s next To librarians offering your readers the RBdigital service, you will receive details about the planned migration in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your OverDrive Account Manager or drop me a note.

Steve Potash
Founder and CEO

Alan Inouye's ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Update, June 22

Not as much of interest for digital content aficianados, but lots of interesting news:

Our program at the 2020 Virtual Event. Session on library advocacy and civic engagement, moderated by Rob Banks, Chair, ALA Committee on Legislation: https://eventscribe.com/2020/ALA-Annual/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=737610

 Several members of the ALA Policy Corps are participating in sessions at the Virtual Event:

Chair's Program - LRRT - Research Matters: Strengthening our Values, Defining Our Practice, with Ann Ewbank (Cohort I):  https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/ALA-Annual/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=689132 

Making Your Library Sustainable for Your Community and Our Future (NMRT LIVE), with Ray Pun (Cohort II): https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/ALA-Annual/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=689176

Retention efforts of minority librarians in librarianship from the perspectives of early, middle and advanced career librarians (health science, academic, public, school-media, and special libraries), also with Ray Pun: https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/ALA-Annual/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=689162

 Advocating for Your Library: The E’s of Libraries® and Collecting Stories, with Lori Fisher (Cohort II):  https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/ALA-Annual/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=730963

-- ALA ACTIVITIES

American Library Association joined The Leadership Conference & other groups to call on Congress to take swift action on meaningful police reform.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1268860076036632576

Federal Relief for School Libraries Will Require State and Local Advocacy, AASL KnowledgeQuest, by Kevin Maher & Megan Cusick

https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/federal-relief-for-school-libraries-will-require-state-and-local-advocacy/

 ALA joins statement led by National Coalition Against Censorship urging protection of 1st Amendment rights of journalists & demonstrators. https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1271100019144302592

 Authors Guild supports our federal ask for IMLS funding for coronavirus relief.

https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/ag-supports-demand-for-increased-library-funding/

ALA joins letter led by the National League of Cities to urge Congress to step up for coronavirus recovery funding to support municipal governments.

https://www.nlc.org/sites/default/files/users/user52651/Cities%20are%20Essiental%20Congressional%20Leadership%20Letter%20FINAL.pdf

PLA President Ramiro Salazar letter in the New York Times urging Congressional support for libraries for coronavirus recovery

https://twitter.com/ALALibrary/status/1266028998972387329

ALA endorses the "Remote Learning During Covid-19 Initiative" spearheaded by the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition and others.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1271116318851371009

ALA, with partners ARL and AALL submit comments to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on proposed Revisions to Uniform Freedom of Information Act Fee Schedule and Guidelines (85 FR 26499). Letter from ALA with partners ARL and ACRL.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/Sign-ons/FOIA%20fee%20guidelines%20-%20libraries%202020-06-02.pdf

Ann Ewbank op-ed on broadband in the Bozeman (Mont.) Daily Chronicle. She is a member of the ALA Policy Corps.

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/pandemic-or-not-montana-needs-robust-broadband/article_1305b2cd-d955-5582-a195-4d6bdc5da34c.html?fbclid=IwAR0MyScrDTmq2GxIf-Dt30ziuDfsJg7whRG4rcroI-q3bneKIsuA4AMbqRQ

Letter to the editor about the service of university libraries during the pandemic. Letter from Sara Benson, member of our ALA Policy Corps.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1268194999029714944

Letter to the editor on libraries and how they help during a national emergency and during the recovery phase--in Peninsula Daily News (Wash.). Also, Samantha Hines is a member of our ALA Policy Corps.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1266797137221869575

Article in The City (NYC):  NYC Public Libraries Mull Grab-and-Go Book Pickup Service. Includes discussion of future directions for digital content and services.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1266304194002092033

 -- ARTICLES

Important aspects of the recent Sec. 512 report from the U.S. Copyright Office are problematic for us.

https://twitter.com/recreateco/status/1268911705779830784

 How COVID-19 is Affecting State Budgets & 2020 Elections

https://fiscalnote.com/blog/how-covid-19-will-affect-novembers-2020-state-legislature-elections?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EM-2020-06-10-1591-How_COVID_Affects_State_Sessions_Blog&utm_content=EMAIL-01&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWldFMFpqbGxOVEkzTkRNeCIsInQiOiJXTlRLUzlSWlwvR3gxYU81QjJcLytFZmo3OVpEK1BVUytpVmU4OWhvQWlQemJlcFVCZ0Q0UklJZ3NGU1loTVRpYjVmWWhcL2NRd1lmdFNnWFdYRjVVYUJaQ0dvR3dqZzNQbFFVaitFRkVOcEFUN1VJOUM3d1Bva0Z5Tm5kcU9IdFlDTCJ9

 Managing vacancies in a new or second-term administration

https://presidentialtransition.org/managing-vacancies-in-a-new-or-second-term-administration/?utm_source=Partnership+for+Public+Service+emails&utm_campaign=772a097c9d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_10_08_47_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3aed0f55fc-772a097c9d-213503653

New public policy head at the Association of Research Libraries

https://twitter.com/ARLnews/status/1266440216765751297

Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition (DOER) Program, created by FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, to recognize those who have helped make quality affordable broadband available during this emergency.

https://twitter.com/GeoffreyStarks/status/1270074437954670593

How to Network When You Can’t Meet Up With People, Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-network-when-you-cant-meet-up-with-people-11591999983

Small Businesses Tackle New PPP Puzzle: Forgiveness, Wall Street Journal

https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-businesses-tackle-new-ppp-puzzle-forgiveness-11592136025?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1

Christopher Cox predicts the significant ways academic libraries will shift in terms of collections, services, spaces and operations as a result of the pandemic.

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/06/05/academic-libraries-will-change-significant-ways-result-pandemic-opinion

Advocacy Alert: Tell Your Senators How Vital Libraries Are

From ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office:

The HEROES Act may have slowed in the Senate, but leadership is still working behind the scenes on the next recovery package which may be announced in the next few weeks. 
 
America's libraries are in need of support, and we can't let our Senators leave them out - they need to understand how vital you are to your communities. Can you share a library impact story to show your Senators how important libraries are to your community?

Libraries across the country are facing historic budget shortfalls, many are announcing furloughs, and all are concerned with how to open safely. It is time for Congress to provide support so we can keep our communities connected and informed. That's why ALA is advocating for $2 billion in additional funding in the next package.

Libraries are centers of community and civic life. Help us convey this message to the Senate by sharing your story.

Thanks to your emails and calls, Congress included $50 million in the CARES Act for libraries to  address the digital divide. IMLS has distributed the majority of these funds to all U.S. states and territories and its impact has been extremely positive. Make sure the Senate understands that libraries are poised to support their communities in the recovery and they are swiftly putting the funds to good use-if you can keep your doors open! Email your Senators today.

As we move forward with the $2 billion dollar ask, we will be in touch again soon. Please know your support and advocacy inspire us every day, and we thank you for the work you do.

Thank you for standing with libraries,
ALA's Public Policy & Advocacy Team

RF encourages you to voice your support!

An Update on the Internet Archive's Libraries

In response to the lawsuit by four publishers, the Internet Archive (IA) announced that it will close its National Emergency Library tomorrow, two weeks ahead of the originally scheduled June 30.

The IA has released a blog post with testimonials to the positive impact the National Emergency Library, such as “So grateful that the NEL is there to help our kids stay connected with their schoolwork.“ and “The NEL has been a relief and lifeline to diverse materials that are not accessible or out of financial reach for me and my family.“

Adds Chris Freeland of the IA, “If you’d like to share your own story of how you used the NEL and the impact it made, please let us know. We will not share your response unless you give explicit permission. “

The IA will continue to offer the Open Library. RF reiterates its support of the Open Library’s use of Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) and points readers uncertain of CDL’s legal underpinnings to this site for a full discussion.

PRH Extends End Date on Story Permissions

Penguin Random House’s Senior VP for Library Sales and Digital Strategy Skip Dye emailed RF to say that the publisher is “extending the end date of our Story Time Temporary Permissions program to August 31, 2020. Details about the extension and some clarifications around the Open License have been made. You’ll find all the details here.”

Added Dye, “Thank you for your shared commitment to storytelling and reading, and to our mutual belief in the power of books to connect us—especially during times like these.”

RF thanks PRH for working to make library story times easier during the pandemic!