ACCC authorises the National Library of Australia to tender on behalf of other libraries
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted authorisation* to allow the National Library of Australia to tender for the use of certain electronic resources on behalf of Australian libraries.
The NLA, under its national licensing proposal, intends to develop standard agreements with electronic resource providers that any library may enter into.
The electronic resources that may be obtained under the proposal include subscriptions to news services, health information as well as reference materials such as encyclopaedias and dictionaries.
"The ACCC considers that the proposed arrangements are likely to lead to minimal anti-competitive detriments," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said. "It will be open for libraries to negotiate individually with other suppliers and there is no element of compulsion to the arrangements."
The ACCC considers that the proposal may provide libraries access to useful resources on better terms and conditions that would have been available if they were to negotiate individually. This will benefit the community by allowing greater access to useful information.
*The ACCC has the function, through the authorisation process of adjudicating on certain anti-competitive practices that would otherwise breach the Trade Practices Act 1974. Authorisation provides immunity from court action, and is granted where the ACCC is satisfied that the practice delivers a net public benefit.
