Library circulation and loans

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) paper summarising the current ebook and elending environment and outlining the issues facing libraries throughout Australia.

This document outlines the Australian Library and Information Association's position on ebooks and elending. It includes ALIA's values, goals and objectives and guiding principles for ebooks and elending. ALIA's overaching principles and operational principles are also stated.

This brief submission raised the issue of libraries' limited access to ebooks for elending purposes because of publishers' restrictions on sales of ebook titles to libraries. 

Taking into account feedback received from library and information professionals, ALIA developed a set of key principles for the procurement and use of ebooks in Australian libraries. These basic principles will guide the sector’s response to government policy and commercial initiatives, support our lobbying and advocacy, and enable us to take the lead in areas over which we have direct control.

In December 2013, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) commissioned Brussels-based Civic Agenda to produce a worldwide elending landscape report, identifying public library-led initiatives to secure ebooks for borrowers.

This report is a snapshot of the ebook situation in Australian public libraries in January 2013, May 2014 and May 2015, created by the ALIA Australian Public Library Alliance.

This is report is a snapshot of the electronic book situation in Australian public libraries in January 2013 and May 2014, created by the Australian Public Library Alliance.