Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Beam Furr
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2020-041, the title of which is as follows: (Commissioner Furr)
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING EQUITABLE PUBLIC ACCESS TO E-BOOKS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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Why Action is Necessary
Formal Board approval is necessary for the adoption of a Resolution.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the adoption of the above Resolution.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
Broward County is committed to standing with libraries across America to protect library resources and strengthen their foundation in our community. Libraries across the nation are currently working to affect change in the digital rights (and limitations) imposed by certain publishers restricting the public's access to certain e-books and e-audiobooks.
For example, one publisher has required that during the first eight weeks following a title's publication, libraries may purchase no more than one electronic copy, severely restricting the ability of the public to access that material through their public library. This deprives libraries of a fundamental service and makes access even more difficult for populations that already face barriers to information and equitable knowledge. As Broward County leads the way nationally in numerous aspects of library service, it is important that the Board articulate its support for efforts to ensure free and equitable access to library resources.
This Resolution, if adopted, would express the Board's disapproval of practices by publishers that limit public access to information through their local public libraries. A copy of the Resolution would be forwarded by the Libraries Division to the Urban Libraries Council, which is coordinating a response...
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