Our world is digital, and digital equity for libraries requires digital ownership. We are delighted to see the Digital Public Library of America and the Independent Publishers Group support digital ownership with their new collection of ebooks that libraries can buy and own in perpetuity. Libraries can buy the 38,000 new books in their catalog under an adapted version of the Library Futures Principles for Digital Ownership Agreement that allows the library to

• lend the Copy to one End User at a time,
• share the Copy to any other library that is part of a consortium or cooperative,
• display or perform, or permit the display or performance of, such Particular Copy on one personal computer or hand-held device at a time,
• host, or have another individual or entity Host, such Digital Work on behalf of such Library Customer,
• reproduce the source code or object code encoding such Digital Work as necessary to transfer such Particular Copy from one piece of hardware (including, without limitation, a server, computer, or hand-held device) to another piece of hardware, and
• prepare derivative works of the source code or object code encoding such Digital Work as necessary to change the format of such Digital Work (collectively, the “First Sale Rights”).
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As we’ve written about many times, library ownership allows libraries to fulfill their historical and crucial mission of collecting, preserving, and lending information. Digital ownership means that instead of spending their time and money navigating complex and costly licensing agreements, libraries can focus instead on what they do best: sharing stories and informing and enriching culture.

Thanks to the many publishers who have stepped up to sell their works to DPLA. We hope many more will follow suit. We celebrate this step toward a digital future in which publishers support the work of libraries in creating access to critical information and resources for their communities and the world.