CLA is Canada's largest national library association. We represent the interests of approximately 57,000 library staff and thousands of libraries of all kinds across Canada, as well as the interests of all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of Canadians through access to knowledge and literacy.
Our role is to represent the interests of these organizations and individuals on a range of public policy issues. None is more critical at this time than copyright.
Library users are the Canadian public. There are millions of students, educators, scholars, researchers, lifelong learners, special library users, and recreational readers--from children to seniors. When it comes to copyright, our users are not members of a special interest group. The public interest is the core of our work.
A copy of CLA's brief on Bill C-32, “Protecting the Public Interest in the Digital World”, has been submitted to the committee members and fully discusses CLA's views on the bill. Today we will highlight the key issues as they relate to the library community.