4 ms·

Can you imagine, if public libraries weren't already a thing, convincing some Americans to build one in 2024?

by skyyler 2y ago

leotravis10 2y ago
Nope. Surely the copyright holders won't allow a library to be created today.
- mdp2021 2y ago
  Once upon a time (when libraries were born), the community (actually the State) ruled over the lobbies.
TMWNN 2y ago
The First Sale doctrine long precedes public libraries.
- dredmorbius 2y ago
  The First Sale doctrine was established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1908 case Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbs-Merrill_Co._v._Straus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbs-Merrill_Co._v._Straus> The first US Public Library dates to 1848 (Boston). <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Public_Library https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Public_Library> The first public libraries ever dates to at least the 4th century BCE, with one known instance begun by Clearchus in Heraclea, on what is now the Black Sea coast of Turkey. <https://research-bulletin.chs.harvard.edu/2017/09/11/clearchus-of-heraclea/ https://research-bulletin.chs.harvard.edu/2017/09/11/clearch...> More recently, and post-classical / Roman times, there is still the 1447 example of the Malatestiana Library. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malatestiana_Library https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malatestiana_Library> Public libraries significantly pre-date the First Sale doctrine by several measures.
  - TMWNN 2y ago
    Thank you for the correction. I'd thought/assumed that first sale doctrine is something that came down from English common law. I wonder if the absence of such is why authors in Canada are entitled to royalties from public libraries?
    - dredmorbius 2y ago
      TBH, I wasn't certain of that either, which was why I'd looked up the background. I'd be surprised if there weren't some common-law precedent or foundation cited in Straus, and should look that up. Michael Geist might be a good source to look to for specifics of Canadian law, though AFAIU the Canadian royalties programme is defined under Public Lending Right: <https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/154625 https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/154625> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Lending_Right https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Lending_Right> Geist ... has apparently written on this: <https://www.michaelgeist.ca/tag/public-lending-right/ https://www.michaelgeist.ca/tag/public-lending-right/>

Can you imagine, if public libraries weren't already a thing, convincing some Americans to build one in 2024?

leotravis10 2y ago

Nope. Surely the copyright holders won't allow a library to be created today.

mdp2021 2y ago
Once upon a time (when libraries were born), the community (actually the State) ruled over the lobbies.

TMWNN 2y ago

The First Sale doctrine long precedes public libraries.

dredmorbius 2y ago
The First Sale doctrine was established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1908 case Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbs-Merrill_Co._v._Straus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbs-Merrill_Co._v._Straus> The first US Public Library dates to 1848 (Boston). <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Public_Library https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Public_Library> The first public libraries ever dates to at least the 4th century BCE, with one known instance begun by Clearchus in Heraclea, on what is now the Black Sea coast of Turkey. <https://research-bulletin.chs.harvard.edu/2017/09/11/clearchus-of-heraclea/ https://research-bulletin.chs.harvard.edu/2017/09/11/clearch...> More recently, and post-classical / Roman times, there is still the 1447 example of the Malatestiana Library. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malatestiana_Library https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malatestiana_Library> Public libraries significantly pre-date the First Sale doctrine by several measures.
- TMWNN 2y ago
  Thank you for the correction. I'd thought/assumed that first sale doctrine is something that came down from English common law. I wonder if the absence of such is why authors in Canada are entitled to royalties from public libraries?
  - dredmorbius 2y ago
    TBH, I wasn't certain of that either, which was why I'd looked up the background. I'd be surprised if there weren't some common-law precedent or foundation cited in Straus, and should look that up. Michael Geist might be a good source to look to for specifics of Canadian law, though AFAIU the Canadian royalties programme is defined under Public Lending Right: <https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/154625 https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/154625> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Lending_Right https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Lending_Right> Geist ... has apparently written on this: <https://www.michaelgeist.ca/tag/public-lending-right/ https://www.michaelgeist.ca/tag/public-lending-right/>