on Toshareproject.it - curated by Bruce Sterling
STATEMENT ON DIGITAL RIGHTS FOR
PROTECTING MEMORY INSTITUTIONS ONLINE
Purpose:
In recognition of the irreplaceable value that libraries, archives, and
museums (hereinafter “memory institutions”) bring to the public, this
document articulates the essential activities in archival collection,
preservation, and lending that need protection and support in today’s digital
media environment. Together, the signatories call upon policymakers and
communities to ensure memory institutions retain the same rights and
responsibilities online that they have enjoyed offline.
Background:
Memory institutions support communities by preserving and providing long-
term access to the cultural, artistic, and scientific knowledge that make up
our collective intellectual heritage. Memory institutions also help individuals
seeking, obtaining, and sharing information by democratizing access and
allowing everyone—no matter their income level or physical location—to
educate themselves and participate in public life. Authors, researchers,
journalists, and other creators depend upon digital access to library,
archive, and museum collections, because these memory institutions keep
resources available without regard to commercial viability. Future
generations depend upon memory institutions for access to the older,
difficult-to-find materials that become building blocks for new creative
works and scientific understanding.
These essential public benefits are possible because memory institutions
have historically had the discretion and capacity to collect, preserve, and
provide controlled access to books and other essential resources.
Unfortunately, many of these activities have become less certain in today’s
increasingly digital, networked world. On the one hand, much of the world’s
information remains undigitized in physical formats and thereby
inaccessible to those without time and resources to travel. On the other
hand, many of the materials that are published and accessed online in
digital formats are locked up in commercial platforms that unduly restrict
memory institutions in their public service mission. This state of affairs has
left memory institutions with fewer (if any) practical ways to collect,
preserve, and make materials available for future generations.
Principles:
Simply put, the rights and responsibilities that memory institutions have
always enjoyed offline must also be protected online. To accomplish this
goal, libraries, archives and museums must have the legal rights and
practical ability to:
• Collect materials in digital form, whether through digitization of
physical collections, or through purchase on the open market or by
other legal means;
• Preserve digital materials, and where necessary repair, back up, or
reformat them, to ensure their long-term existence and availability;
• Provide controlled access to digital materials for advanced
research techniques and to meet patrons where they are—online;
• Cooperate with other memory institutions, by sharing or
transferring digital collections, so as to aid preservation and access.
For memory institutions to realize their full potential in today’s digital world,
they cannot be subject to undue burdens or predatory contracts stifling their
collection and preservation efforts. And these institutions must be protected
from destruction by excessive financial attacks and operational
restrictions.
We, the undersigned, hereby call upon policymakers worldwide to secure
the essential public role of libraries, archives, and museums and to adopt
these principles wherever possible into local, regional, and national laws.
Sign the Statement
The Statement can be endorsed by governments, memory institutions, and
other public interest organizations following a verification process. If you
are interested in signing the statement, or would like to learn more, please
contact us: campaigns@internetarchive.eu