Our Principles

We are standing up for the technology-positive future of libraries.
  • A Rolodex style card with a generic contact person on it.

    Our World is Digital

    Learners of all types need access to digital content wherever they are located and without long waiting periods. Libraries must adopt a technology-forward approach that meets the needs of our communities.
  • A large circle connected to a series of smaller circles with straight lines.

    Protect the Right to Lend

    Library lending is enshrined in the copyright act, and libraries allow broad access to information by lending materials without restriction. We support digital lending that uses technology to mirror the library's right to loan legally acquired books under controlled conditions while respecting copyright.
  • An icon of a hand holding a heart

    Libraries must own content, not license it

    For libraries to thrive, they must be able to purchase digital content, not "license” it within a twisted maze of terms. Libraries must be able to purchase, preserve, lend, and accept donations of digital materials, just as they do with their print collections. 
  • An icon of a hand holding a heart

    Equitable access is the future of libraries

    Historical preservation, culturally inclusive cataloging, universal broadband, and accessible content should be the norm, not the exception. We believe in ideal, universal access to information for all patrons, regardless of socioeconomic status, identity, or ability.
  • A person surrounded by circles.

    Privacy is not for sale

    Privacy has always been a core component of librarianship, but communities are losing their core privacy rights within digital information systems. Libraries are uniquely positioned to help preserve community privacy, ensuring that borrowing histories, research, interests, and page views are safeguarded, anonymized appropriately, and held to the same high degree of confidentiality that should be afforded to all library records.
  • A hand holding a wrench.

    We are stronger together

    We stand in coalition with individuals and organizations fighting for equity, openness, and collaboration in the knowledge movement. Publishing and corporate enclosures hurt us all. We are in solidarity with authors and content creators. Together we are fighting for a better world.

Share our principles on social media

Stand up for libraries with your networks!