Libraries are becoming crucial champions of free and equal access to information and entertainment, writes Caroline Ball.

In a world dominated by digital streaming, the vinyl record and CD, often dismissed as obsolete relics of a bygone era, are making a remarkable comeback that defies expectations.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), vinyl sales experienced remarkable growth for the 16th consecutive year in 2021, amassing $1.2 billion in sales and constituting a significant 71% of all physical media revenue.

CDs may not be making headlines, but their sales have remained steady, with over 33 million units sold in the same year.

At the expense of ownership

Streaming platforms offer consumers a different model, and with it access to vast content libraries at a relatively affordable price, where they can rent books, films, games, and TV shows.

But where once we owned these items, we now licence them, and our access to them is controlled by the platform and not the user

Even with items that are supposedly ‘purchased’, digital platforms and providers often wield the power to add or remove content based on commercial or contractual interests.

In an example of extreme irony, Amazon removed copies of George Orwell's 1984 from users' Kindles.

The resurgence of physical media underscores a fundamental desire to own and access media on our own terms and to ensure consistency of access, in a world where ownership is declining.

At the crossroads

We are now at a crossroads in the digital age, where digital media production has shifted dramatically to streaming, and physical purchasing options are in decline.

Disney recently decided to discontinue the sale of DVDs and Blu-rays in certain regions, that locked consumers into a digital-only commercial ecosystem.

In a further erosion of digital ownership rights, video games have ventured into this territory, some titles are now unplayable without a constant internet connection.

Libraries: the solution?

Libraries, particularly public libraries, have long been at the forefront of providing condition-free physical access to their collections.

They give people the breadth of media that streaming companies offer customers, a physical object, and a sense of ownership, albeit shared.

This trend highlights the reinforcement of the control content creators and distributors exert over the media landscape, and leave consumers increasingly dependent on digital platforms, with their paywalls and high bandwidth requirements.

Libraries are beacons of accessibility for the communities they serve and offer a lifeline to clients seeking alternatives to this encroaching digital-only paradigm.

In an ideal world, libraries could seamlessly offer both physical and digital content, catering to the diverse preferences and needs of their patrons, but they are inhibited by substantial hurdles.

Restrictions on libraries

Libraries grapple with restrictions imposed by DRM licensing, that constrain their ability to freely share digital materials.

Like streaming subscribers, libraries do not truly own these digital assets, and their capacity to preserve, share, reformat, or display them is severely limited.

The lending of physical media empowers community members who are digitally excluded by cost or location, to enjoy movies, music, audiobooks, and more.

This pressure compels librarians to allocate more of their limited budgets to expensive digital licenses, that acto to further restrict accessibility.

We need forward-thinking policies and services to break free from the constraints of profit-driven corporate interests and ensure unrestricted digital access.

Librarians can help

• As a starting point, this is what we can do as librarians
• Advocated for copyright provisions that enable digital format shifting and sharing.
• Collaborate with publishers and content providers to negotiate more favourable DRM terms.
• Push for legislation allowing libraries to circumvent DRM for non-commercial purposes.
• Lobby for regulations that require companies to provide legacy access when discontinuing services or formats.
• Seek additional funding opportunities to enhance public library digital collections and expand community-accessible physical collections.

As vital hubs of community engagement and information access, libraries play a crucial role in shaping the future of equitable access to information and culture for all.

The commitment of libraries to this mission is paramount in preserving the richness of our collective cultural heritage for generations to come.

Caroline is a Trustee at WikimediaUK, a campaigner for #ebooksSOS, and independent expert for LACA. Her Linktree is here.