The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Board of Directors have unanimously voted to endorse a set of nine principles to guide vendor/publisher relations in large-scale digitisation projects of special collections materials, recommended by its Transforming Special Collections in the Digital Age Working Group. The Board's vote strongly encourages ARL member libraries to refrain from signing future agreements with publishers or vendors, either individually or through consortia, that do not adhere to the principles.
The ARL Board recognises that research libraries are increasingly finding that large-scale digitisation of special collections materials involves partnerships with commercial vendors and publishers. According to ARL, these partnerships should be governed by principles that protect special collections materials and promote the broadest possible access to digital versions of them.
Digital access to special collections materials has become important in revealing hidden materials and promoting humanities research. ARL member libraries often require appropriate collaborations and partnerships to implement large-scale digitisation activities. The nine principles address issues including implications of the distinctive character of special collections, the need for libraries to retain their own copies of the products of digitisation projects, the importance of promoting broad access to digitised collections, and concerns regarding the collection of data about users of digitised collections.
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