International Statement of Solidarity | Library Futures

"The future of knowledge is digital, open, accessible, and culturally responsive. As information workers, we seek to steward this future through shared goals: Balancing copyright and an information ecosystem that meets the needs of communities globally....

We believe:

• Copyright must be updated for the digital age and exceptions and limitations must be made for libraries to best serve the public
• Controlled Digital Lending and other innovative lending practices should be legally protected
• Digital first sale, the principle of exhaustion in intellectual property law, and ownership of digital objects is the only way to ensure full access to information by libraries and cultural institutions
• Libraries should be able to purchase and lend all eresources at reasonable prices
• Licensing has created a pervasive market failure that must be investigated by regulators and governments to ensure that the public has access to relevant, timely, published information to support education, research and economic growth
• Libraries have a responsibility to advocate for policies that will affect their communities
• We must achieve ideal, universal access to knowledge for all patrons regardless of socioeconomic status, identity, or ability...."