Invitation to tender: Review of the economic and social benefits of enabling more sustainable and inclusive eBook lending.

CILIP invites researchers to submit a proposal to conduct an independent study into the economic, social, cultural, educational and innovation and research impacts of enabling more sustainable and inclusive eBook lending and to present the findings in a short report.

Indicative contract fee: £6,000 inclusive of VAT

Timescale for delivery: October 2024 – December 2024

The outputs will be used to develop a new evidence-based campaign to promote better pro-library regulation for eBook lending in the public and academic library sectors in the UK.

This research forms part of ‘Unlocking eBooks for innovation and growth’, a CILIP led project funded by Knowledge Rights 21 (KR21). Our ambition is to build political support for the proposition that fair and equitable access to eBooks for UK libraries is a key enabler of any future industrial strategy that is focused on inclusive growth and innovation. And in the longer-term, to secure pro-library provisions for eBook buying and lending as part of the legislative agenda for the next Parliament.

As the aim of the research is to bring an economic angle to the legal issues surrounding the acquisition and lending of eBooks, experience in conducting economic research is required.

The research report is one of three key deliverables of the ‘Unlocking eBooks for innovation and growth’ project. The other two deliverables are:

• A framework of proposed amendments to regulation, developed by November 2024, to create a more supportive environment for eBook buying and lending in public and academic libraries.
• Advocacy work between November 2024 and late January 2025 to promote the above activities in cooperation with a public affairs company Inflect.

For activities and deliverables, anticipated report structure, KPIs and full detail of how to apply see the full tender document below:

Download Tender Document (pdf)

Download Tender Document (word doc)

Contact Yvonne Morris for more details

Deadline for applications: Thursday 12th September 2024 by 5pm