Controlled Digital (CDL) Lending Resources: Home

"Offers a good faith interpretation of U.S. copyright law for American libraries considering how to perform traditional lending functions using digital technology while preserving an appropriate balance between the public benefit of such lending and the protected interests of private rights holders."

Written "in support of the Position Statement on Controlled Digital Lending."

A policy paper advocating for the use of controlled digital lending in libraries.

Website aims to help libraries “better understand the legal framework underpinning CDL, communicate their support for CDL, and build a community of expertise around the practice of CDL.”

The Internet Archive's campaign in support of controlled digital lending.

Website aims to “discover and evaluate potential solutions for CDL at your library.” As of February 16, 2022, includes descriptions and evaluation of Alma-D, Occam’s Reader, and Open Library.

Detailed descriptions of many services and systems supporting CDL.

Report and recommendations of a working group "charged with investigating delivery mechanisms, technology, workflows, policies, copyright and legal issues, shared storage solutions, and other actions related to a potential consortial implementation of CDL among interested BLC member libraries."

Objective is to develop a “consensus framework in support of controlled digital lending of book content by libraries, to be published as a NISO Recommended Practice.”

The Internet Archive scans and hosts library books

Developed by Texas Tech University, University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Greater Western Library Alliance. Offers some CDL functionality such as limiting loan period and DRM technology and memberships to libraries at a low annual cost.

A “platform…that will allow libraries to purchase, organize, and deliver ebooks and other digital content…quickly and easily while protecting patron privacy…builds on a collaboration between DPLA and LYRASIS…and uses the Library Simplified platform, an open-source code base originally designed and developed by The New York Public Library. ” We understand that the platform allows delivery of content that libraries digitize from their own collections.

DLSG is responsible for KIC and Bookeye scanners and has developed a CDL solution, although it is relatively expensive.

A digital asset management system from Ex Libris which supports CDL. Harvard Library is piloting use through FY22.

An open source system built by Caltech to provide books to students during the pandemic.

A membership organization developing tools supporting CDL, including use in a consortial environment.

Incorporates DRM and file tracking. In use at Carnegie Mellon University.

Offers DRM and secure PDF viewers. In use at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Used by the Digital Theological Library to securely deliver protected files to patrons.

Some libraries use LibWizard and LibGuides for placing requests and securely communicating links and passwords for CDL resources. In use at Florida Gulf Coast University and the Digital Theological Library.

Tested by NYU Shanghai. Fordham University Libraries developed a CDL app using it as the backend.

March 10, 2022, 10 am Alaska time