Public Lending Right Program: Options for Renewal

In 2011 Canada’s Public Lending Right (PLR) program marked its 25th anniversary. Recognizing that the environment in which PLR operates – the environment for books, publishing and libraries – had changed considerably during that quarter-century, the Canada Council for the Arts commissioned a series of research studiesto create a knowledge base for the program.

The first study documented PLR’s policy origins in historical context. The second study examined the development of the program design over 25 years, compared Canadian PLR with PLR programs internationally, and considered the impact of technological change on the program.

The present study is the third in the series and builds on the previous two. Its purpose is to conduct research and analysis assisting decision makers to evaluate options for PLR’sfuture. The paper focuses on two key areas: mapping current realities and trends in Canada’s public libraries, which are essential partners in PLR’s work; and identifying options for program renewal in the light of pressures on PLR’s financial sustainability.