Eventually, those that don’t become best sellers are destined for the out-of-stock and out-of-print list. The main reason for this is that many publishers cannot maintain the costs of marketing and storing books in print if they do not continue to sell well.
Even though publishers are bringing more books back into commerce through e-books and print on demand, many titles still remain in the collections and archives of Europe’s libraries.
According to the EU, this is soon to change because Mr Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, presided this week over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which libraries, publishers, authors, and their collecting societies have agreed to a set of ‘Key Principles’ that will basically allow libraries and cultural institutions in the EU the ‘possibility to digitise and make available online out-of-commerce books and learned journals which are part of their collections.’
The Key Principles contained in the MoU will try to encourage voluntary licensing agreements while also attempting to respect copyright. The MoU is part of the efforts of stakeholders and of the Commission to address the needs of mass digitisation by European cultural institutions.
Commissioner Barnier said: “Today’s agreement marks an important step forward by stakeholders to find viable and concrete solutions to further the creation of Europe’s digital libraries and ensure access to our rich cultural heritage. I strongly believe this is a clear sign that, through dialogue and taking into account the specific needs of specific sectors, it is possible to reach negotiated solutions to surmount copyright issues in the digital era.”
Dr Pirjo Hiidenmaa, President of the European Writers’ Council (EWC) said: “The MoU recognises the central role of authors, enables a new life to their books, and makes it possible for readers to continue enjoying them time after time."
“The library organisations welcome the positive outcome of the Stakeholder Dialogue on Out-of-Commerce Works. We hope that this first step in the development of efficient collective rights management mechanisms may be followed by initiatives in other areas” said Gerald Leitner, President of the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA).
Mr Fergal Tobin, President of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) continued: "European publishers welcome these sector-specific Principles which provide clear guidance to agree digitisation projects at national level, all the while allowing publishers to revive and to keep in commerce more and more publications through innovative solutions.
“The MoU is yet another example of the kind of ground-breaking achievements that are possible when all the stakeholders collaborate constructively. IFRRO and European Visual Artists members are experiencing collective rights managers and are eager to contribute to the important aim of making cultural heritage available in Europe," added Magdalena Vinent, President of the International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organisations (IFRRO).
