EBLIDA Newsletter December 2017

The EBLIDA Newsletter is published monthly on European library & information society issues, programmes, news and events of interest to the library, archive and cultural heritage community.

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Issue No. 12 - December 2017

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The President’s Editorial

All I Want for Christmas is the Copyright Exception!

White snow would be nice, instead of the grayish slush covering Helsinki right now. And I could use a pair of slippers, and a few books, and maybe even some yummy chocolate. But if I could really choose from my Santa letter list, it would be the copyright exception for libraries, regarding the e-books.

It would be a gift to the whole Europe, and pretty easy to deliver. Stuffing a pedal car, bicycle or a bobsleigh down the chimney is an ongoing challenge for the Santa, but to tell me, and all other not-naughty-but-nice kids around the continent, about the copyright exception, takes just one single tweet. Are you online, Santa?

On a more serious note, instead of Father Christmas’ magic powers, EBLIDA has counted on the persistent efforts of our Director, Vincent Bonnet, together with our allies in IFLA and PL2020, to lobby for libraries in Brussels. I am not sure if we have enough (wo)manpower or time to achieve our goals, but I know that they could not have done anything more.

Thank you for your efforts. They are valuable.

I also wish to thank everybody else involved with EBLIDA during this year, and those who have carried out our message. One organisation cannot manage 28 national public debates in countless different languages. That is why national library associations are so valuable for our efforts, as, I hope, we are in turn to them.

We’ll keep doing our best in 2018.

Happy holidays!

Jukka Relander
EBLIDA President

INSIDE BRUSSELS

Copyright reform – recent developments

The Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee of the European Parliament was the last in a queue of committees to provide its opinion on the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market.

The challenge for this committee was in essence to vote on part of the Directive relevant to its core mission (in particular with respect to the Charter of Fundamental Rights within the EU, the European Convention on Human Rights and the strengthening of European citizenship).

With this in mind, and thanks to the work Michał Boni (European People’s Party, Poland), rapporteur on this dossier, the LIBE Committee’s opinion focuses on the sole article 13 (and connected recitals).

The opinion was eventually voted on Monday 20 November by a majority of the LIBE Committee members with 36 for, 5 against and 3 abstentions.

All compromise amendments and two additional amendments, namely AM 134 and 64, were adopted.

During that week (23rd November) and in week 49 (4 and 5 December), two Council Working Parties on Copyright took place, respectively addressing the issue of article 13 and of article 4 and 5.

On 30 November, a Competitiveness (COMPET) Council on internal market and industry took place, in light of which an Open letter, signed by EBLIDA (among others), was published.
To increase awareness on the Open Letter, we also published a blog post to reinstate the need for an educated and diverse society, with autonomous citizens who trust the institutions in which libraries have a strong role to play.

European Commission Consultation on Fake News and Online Disinformation

From 13 November to 23 February, the European Commission is undergoing a Public Consultation on Fake News and online disinformation with the aim to assess the effectiveness of current actions by market players and other stakeholders, the need for scaling them up and introducing new actions to address different types of fake news.

The consultation will collect information on:

Definition of fake information and their spread online;
Assessment of measures already taken by platforms, news media companies and civil society organisations to counter the spread of fake information online;
Scope for future actions to strengthen quality information and prevent the spread of disinformation online.

We encourage you to answer the consultation at https://ec.europa.eu/info/consultations/public-consultation-fake-news-and-online-disinformation_en

European Commission Communication: Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture

On 14 November, the European Commission issued the communication Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture.

In its conclusion, the communication proposed a vision for 2025.

A vision for 2025 would be a Europe in which learning, studying and doing research would not be hampered by borders. A continent, where spending time in another Member State – to study, to learn, or to work – has become the standard and where, in addition to one's mother tongue, speaking two other languages has become the norm. A continent in which people have a strong sense of their identity as Europeans, of Europe's cultural heritage and its diversity.

Delivering on this vision must be a common endeavour. It will mean working together towards a shared agenda, in full respect of subsidiary.

At the heart of this shared agenda is the idea to work jointly towards a European Education Area based on trust, mutual recognition, cooperation and exchange of best practices, mobility and growth, to be established by 2025, including via:

making learning mobility a reality for all;
removing obstacles to the recognition of qualifications, both at the level of schools and higher education;
modernising the development of curricula;
boosting language learning;
creating world-class European universities that can work seamlessly together across borders;
improving education, training and lifelong learning;
driving innovation in education in the digital era;
giving more support to teachers;
and preserving cultural heritage and fostering a sense of a European identity and culture.

This vision resonates with the upcoming EBLIDA-NAPLE Conference in Strasbourg in May 2018, Libraries bridging borders. Libraries are an important component of education and culture. Libraries and librarians are increasingly working in a cross-border environment, be it related to countries, disciplines, preservation, knowledge, copyright or any of the issues in relation to free access to information.

For free movement of knowledge to happen, we need libraries bridging borders.

EUROPE and WORLDWIDE

Official launch of 2018 Year of European Cultural Heritage

7-8 December 2017 - Milan (Italy)

In our November issue, we informed you about the “[…] European Culture Forum a biennial flagship event organised by the European Commission to raise the profile of European cultural cooperation and to bring together cultural sectors' key players and to debate on EU culture policy and initiatives. Its 2017 edition will also mark the official launch of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, the thematic EU year devoted to our common cultural assets and all their aspects.”

The event kicked off on 7 and 8 December in Milan (Italy), and you can access the web stream here.

A dedicated website has been created, gathering useful information about activities and events taking place during the year, possibilities to sign-up to the newsletter and add your event. It also provides information on related social media activities.

Don’t hesitate to contribute!

WIPO SCCR 35

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) – SCCR 35

The 35^th edition of WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) took place from 13 to 17 November.

EBLIDA was among the library and archives delegation from all around the world and concentrated its activities on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 for discussion on the exceptions and limitations for libraries and those related to education and museums.

During the meeting, Mrs Sylvie Forbin, WIPO Deputy Secretary General presented the 5 draft action plans for the next 2 years (2018 and 2019). These aim at going beyond studies, looking at different solutions and organising regional conferences.

These were then heavily discussed by Member-States and should be approved upon after being updated at WIPO SCCR 36 (28 May – 1 June 2018).
Four Types of Library Exceptions
Two interesting studies were presented during SCCR 35:

1. Study on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives: Updated and Revised (2017 edition), prepared by Kenneth D. Crews, J.D., Ph.D. See point SCCR/35/6.

Executive summary page 6 to 13;
Prof. Crews actually identified 4 types of library exceptions (see picture)

2. Updated Study and Additional Analysis of Study on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Educational Activities, prepared by Mr. Daniel Seng, See point SCCR/35/5.

A blog post on the position of the libraries, archives and museums representatives on the WIPO discussions at SCCR 35 was published, see here.

Additionally, for those interested in the issue of copyright and how it is changing, you can read an interesting article in WIPO magazine.

Inside EBLIDA

EBLIDA answer to the Public Consultation on the 'Review of the Directive on the re-use of Public Sector Information (PSI Directive)'

From 19 September to 12 December 2017, the EU Commission organised a public consultation on the 'Review of the Directive on the re-use of public sector information (PSI Directive)'.

The EBLIDA expert-group on Information Law took a thorough look at the consultation and compiled the response that you can find here.

The response was sent on Monday 11 December 2017.

EBLIDA welcomes 2 new members for 2018

We are delighted to introduce our latest new members:

University Library Graz, Austria and

University of Nicosia Library & Information Centre, Cyprus.

If your organisation is interested in joining our growing network, please contact Majella.cunnane@eblida.org for more information, or fill out a membership enquiry form on our website here.

Universitätsbibliothek Graz, Austria / University Library, Graz
The University of Graz Library is the largest scientific and public library in Styria and the third largest in Austria. It was founded in 1585 and holds the right of legal deposit. It is part of the University of Graz and consists of the main library, two faculty libraries (for law and social and economic sciences, and for theology) and several branch libraries and is open to the public.

At the end of 2016 the actual stocks were around 4 million printed hooks, about 100000 e books, 35000 e-journals, more than 2000 manuscripts and about 1200 incunabula.

The Special Collections Department holds all manuscripts and works printed up to 1900. Some of the most notable parchment manuscripts are the five oldest Georgian scripts (7th to 11th century) found in the Saint Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinaï. Some of the most important paper manuscripts are Johannes Kepler's letters to Paul Guldin.

Since the beginning of the current year the main library is under heavy reconstruction https://ub.uni-graz.at/de/ubwirdneu/

University of Nicosia Library & Information Centre, Cyprus
University of Nicosia Library & Information Centre is primarily committed to serving the research, teaching, and academic needs of the University of Nicosia students, faculty, staff and affiliates. The Library's main objectives are to provide quality resources that support the educational and research goals of the University community, to help students assume responsible roles in a changing society and to be of service to society through partnerships with business and civic institutions.

Lack of inspiration for a Christmas gift? 😊
Register today on the EBLIDA-NAPLE
Conference

30 - 31 May 2018

Treat yourself for Christmas by registering online for the next EBLIDA Annual Council Meeting & EBLIDA-NAPLE Conference "Libraries Bridging Borders" in STRASBOURG (France) from 30 to 31 May 2018!!

We are happy to inform you that we just opened the registration for our next Council and Conference "Libraries Bridging Borders".
Check here!

26th EBLIDA Annual Council 30 May 2018
EBLIDA-NAPLE Conference, 30 and 31 May 2018 "Libraries Bridging Borders"

Conference Concept:

Europe is at a crossroads in its history. Over the past couple of years, political tensions have risen among the citizens of Europe and globally. Governments throughout Europe have been taking various steps and measures to open or close down their borders to refugees. Meanwhile, terrorism has had a huge impact throughout the continent, challenging the free circulation of people in the EU.

At the same time, the mass digitisation of our world, and the advancement of the sharing economy is impacting the way citizens access culture and challenges the notion of borders itself.

There is a strong global demand from citizens for access to content anywhere any time.

As Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Estonia) mentioned in a declaration in February 2017 before Estonia took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU, “Striving towards a seamless physical and digital connectivity is in the interest of the whole European Union as economic success cannot be separated from the free movement of goods, services, people, capital, and knowledge”.

Libraries and librarians are increasingly working in a cross-border environment, be it related to countries, disciplines, preservation, knowledge, copyright or any of the issues in relation to free access to information. For free movement of knowledge to happen, we need libraries bridging borders.

NOTE: Because the conference will be hosted at the same time as a European Parliament Plenary Session, we recommend that you book your hotel room as soon as possible.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!

>> 5 reason why membership matters <<

Events and Dates

December

December 13 – 15, Serbian Library Association Annual Conference: "What I talk about when I talk about libraries: Advocacy, Promoting and Lobbying"
Place: Belgrade, Serbia
Sponsor/Organizer: Serbian Library Association
URL: https://slaconference2017.wordpress.com/

Stay informed, sign up today!

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