CILIP's response to the Government's Interim Report on Digital Britain
Read the response
(PDF, 61.35 KB)
Summary
CILIP broadly welcome the Interim Report but notes that there are significant areas of omissions.
Our members are already addressing and working with many of the issues set out in the Interim Report. The skills and knowledge represented within our membership, the value system underpinning our work and our reach across the UK economy put us in an excellent position to be harbingers of change and contributors to a Britain that is not only digitally enabled but also a successful knowledge economy.
Key recommendations
• The necessary national funding is made available to enable the People's Network to become a true national network, possibly as part of JANET (Joint Academic Network)
• Key issues relating to content are addressed including the organisation and retrieval of content in a digital environment; legal deposit of non-print materials and the preservation of digital content for future generations.
• The interests of rights holders in intellectual property are balanced against the rights of users and that it is acknowledged that the principles of fair dealing and library exceptions pertain across all media platforms and should not be diminished or removed by contracts and licences for digital content.
• The role of libraries is recognised in teaching and promoting digital life skills.
About the Digital Britain Report
The interim report was published on 29 January 2009 and the deadline for responses was 12 March 2009. The interim report sets out five objectives:
• Upgraded wired, wireless and broadcast networks
• The right framework for investment in content
• Diverse sources of valued UK content for UK users
• Fairness, accessibility and universality and
• Network and user capability to allow for the increasing digital delivery of public services
It also sets out what the Government thinks needs to be done in the run up to thefinal report which is due to be published late spring/early summer 2009.
Access the main consultation documents on the DCMS website.
Take part in online discussion aimed about the issues: Digital Britain Discussion Forum
March 2009