Unlocking eBooks for Innovation and Growth
The “Unlocking eBooks for Innovation and Growth” is an evidence-based campaign supported by Knowledge Rights 21 to address the legal and economic challenges that hinder UK public, academic, and research libraries’ ability to sustainably acquire and lend eBooks.
CILIP – the UK Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals – commissioned public affairs consultancy Inflect to explore the issues at stake. This research materialises in two deliverables being published and presented today, 26 February, at a UK Parliamentary roundtable:
- A literature review of the economic and social benefits of enabling more sustainable and inclusive eBook lending; and,
- A case for support that synthesises the review’s findings.
Key challenges to address
eBooks should be central to the modernisation efforts of public, academic, and research libraries. In the digital age, users expect seamless access to knowledge, yet overly restrictive eBook access limits the transformative potential of libraries, cutting off access to scientific knowledge, research, innovation, and opportunity for economic growth. Essential content is being locked away, limiting opportunities for students, researchers, and communities precisely when it’s needed most.
The case for support presents 3 concrete examples of the impact on the ground and identifies the following areas among those where the market needs fixing:
- Unfair pricing drains public budgets and limits access
- Inefficient and expensive “bundling” practices limit choice
- Restrictive licensing stops libraries from operating as they have done for centuries
- Our knowledge and culture could be lost forever
Deliver change: NOW!
The literature review advocates for:
- Changing the structure of the eBook market through Government interventions, to strengthen the library within the marketplace; and,
- Copyright reform, to make eBook licensing more analogous to paper book purchasing so that libraries can fulfil their fundamental role.
To achieve this, it sets out 8 concrete recommendations to fix the broken eBook market:
- Implement a clarified copyright framework for e-lending
- Prevent the loss of licensed content and protect the innovation and creativity that comes from the public domain
- End restrictive bundling practices
- Enforce transparency in eBook pricing
- Protect libraries’ archiving role
- Enable eBooks in Interlibrary Loan
- Protect libraries from unfair contracts
- Explore competition law and digital gatekeeper regulation
19 March Webinar
Check out our upcoming webinar:
Unlocking eBooks for Innovation and Growth
When?
- Date: 19 March, 2025
- Time: 11:30-12:30 CET / 12:30-13:30 GMT
Speakers
- Anthony Sinnott – Access & Procurement Development Manager, University of York
- Ben White – Co-Founder & UK National Coordinator, Knowledge Rights 21
- Louis O’Halloran – Senior Account Manager, Devo Inflect
- Fabian Cooper – Account Manager, Devo Inflect
Save Your Spot!
26 February 2025
