Therese Comodini Cachia MEP at Library Event in StrasbourgAt the European Parliament in Strasbourg (France) last week, library representatives and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) discussed the path towards a copyright reform that will empower Europe's over 100M library users.

 

On the 15th of March, 2017, IFLA went to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, in order to build the alliance in favour of changes that will allow libraries not just to survive, but to thrive in a digital age.

 

MEP Therese Comodini Cachia, Rapporteur at the JURI Committee, opened the session, setting out her ambitions for libraries in the Directive. She underlined her commitment to facilitating the work of libraries and other cultural heritage institutions, especially with regards to digital uses.

 

Experts, including IFLA CLM member Ben White and former Board member Frédéric Blin, alongside Teresa Hackett (EIFL) and Jan Müller (Europeana) then presented the joint position prepared by IFLA, Public Libraries 2020, Europeana, EBLIDA, and LIBER and IFLA on the Draft Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. Topics covered included document supply, mass digitization of out of commerce works and on the premises access to digital works, with libraries also working for better rules for preservation, text and data mining, and eLending as well.

 

Participants engaged in a lively debate, leaving with stronger understanding of the key challenges facing libraries. MEP Catherine Stihler closed the session underlining the importance to support the work of cultural heritage institutions and welcoming other Members of the European Parliament to join the Library Lovers’ Group set up by partner organisation Public Libraries 2020.