SUPPORT FREE ACCESS TO A NATIONAL LIBRARY OF DIGITIZED RESOURCES

WHEREAS, free and public libraries and unencumbered access to libraries have been a cornerstone of public education, and all education, throughout history; and

WHEREAS, new technologies have allowed for the digitization of information, including public domain educational resources such as out-of-publication books, "orphan" books and other publications and creative materials that have been or currently are free in libraries; and

WHEREAS, Google Inc. has led the effort in the digitization of resources that are of major importance and are currently accessible for free, by students and educators, through their proprietary Google Books Library Project; and

WHEREAS, major nations, educational institutions, writers, artists, authors and the general public have expressed concern for the privatization and commercialization of educational and creative resources by Google Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Google Inc. is actively working to create and impose a legal framework that would allow for the privatization and commercialization of educational resources:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers publicize the idea for allowing free access to all educational materials currently or recently digitized by Google for royalty-free use by educators, FC-12 and higher education students, public educational institutions and librarians; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT support efforts to create a national library for digitized resources that are free and open for public access and use.