Controlled Digital Lending by Libraries
Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) encompasses practices and technologies that allow libraries to loan print books to digital patrons in a “lend like print” fashion.

Through CDL, libraries use technical controls to ensure a consistent
“owned-to-loaned” ratio, meaning the library circulates the exact number
of copies of a specific title it owns, regardless of format, putting
controls in place to prevent users from redistributing or copying the
digitized version. When CDL is appropriately tailored to reflect print
book market conditions and controls are properly implemented, CDL may be
permissible under existing copyright law. CDL is not intended to act as
a substitute for existing electronic licensing services offered by
publishers. Indeed, one significant advantage of CDL is addressing the
“Twentieth Century Problem” of older books still under copyright but
unlikely ever to be offered digitally by commercial services.
The resources on this site offer libraries an opportunity to:
better understand the legal framework underpinning CDL,
communicate their support for CDL, and
build a community of expertise around the practice of CDL.
The resources on this site offer libraries an opportunity to:
better understand the legal framework underpinning CDL,
communicate their support for CDL, and
build a community of expertise around the practice of CDL.