Digitization and Libraries

Horvat, Aleksandra. (2012). Digitization and Libraries. Vjesnik bibliotekara Hrvatske, 55(2). pp. 17-27. ISSN 0507-1925

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Abstract

A Digital Agenda for Europe, one of seven flagship initiatives of a new EU development strategy for the next decade, envisages wider deployment and more effective use of digital technologies, which will hopefully provide European citizens with easier access to public services and cultural content. Digitization and dissemination of cultural works held in European libraries, archives, museums and similar public heritage institutions is felt to be important and a further development of Europeana, as a first step toward the creation of the European digital library is encouraged. Since 2008, when it was established, Europeana has been confronted with technical, organizational and legal barriers. Rights clearance appears to be a cumbersome and lengthy process which libraries try to evade and at present the works originated in the 20th c., are rare in the European digital libraries. Mass digitization which is now technically feasible is confronted with the copyright regime perfectly applicable in the printed surroundings, but difficult to apply in the digital environment. A new EU Directive on Orphan Works, i.e. the works whose authors cannot be identified or located, should allow libraries to digitize a great part of the materials they hold, but diligent search for right holders required by the Directive appears to be unacceptable to libraries. Other possible solutions discussed in Europe are extended collective licence, government licence and statutory exception or limitation for libraries. WIPO/SCCR will discuss the possible solutions for libraries at its next meeting in July 2012.

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