This topic has tormented me.

Starting in the 1950s Readex and AAS started the historical newspaper
project which many historical libraries offered up unique copies of colonial
newspapers in exchange for a copy of the resulting microfilm. Well. Now they
have digitized it and are selling subscriptions to places such as
universities for up to $80k per year while we are struggling to keep the
lights on. Literally.

Same potential situation with corps like Proquest who kindly "store"
original microfilm negatives while their teams of corporate lawyers draw up
new contracts with wiggly "digital rights" clauses.

While my research doesn't implicate that we have "copyright" of the
information, I believe we are entitled to a use fee for the image if we own
the only known copy. I am not trying to stifle the utopian dream of free
research access-- these companies are making big money off our materials
while we have a trickle of funds to preserve the originals.

I am at a loss at how to fight it.

Phoebe Simpson, MLS
Technical & Conservation Librarian
*  *  *   *   *   *   *
Rhode Island Historical Society Library
121 Hope Street
Providence, Rhode Island  02906
T 401.273.8107 x24
F 401.791.7930
E [log in to unmask]
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

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