Unless librarians and individual end users have clear rights, without prejudice to the legitimate interests of rights owners, this will create a greater divide between the information rich and the information poor. In this digital age, users expect to obtain information without delay. With more and more information available electronically, users expect information to be delivered digitally. Librarians want to meet the needs of users, but are frustrated by copyright. Lending Lending, the activity of making documents available for use for a limited period of time for non-commercial purposes, is an important part of a librarian's role.
Public lending is essential to culture and education.
It should be available to all. Information packaged in all formats has and will become part of the lending stock. Lending in turn promotes commercially packaged information and encourages sales. Libraries are, in effect, catalysts for the sale of information in all of its formats. Any legal or contractual restraints put on lending would be to the disadvantage of rights holders.