Strengthening the Movement, Deepening the Community: Knowledge Rights 21 Funding Extension

As one of the partners of Knowledge Rights 21 Programme (KR21), LIBER is delighted to announce that the project has been extended for a further five years, thanks to the generous support of Arcadia.

Libraries are recognised as powerful interlocutors that have an important role to play in any copyright discussion as they seek to improve access to and use of knowledge in a fast changing digital environment. They are uniquely placed to know what elements in copyright and related bodies of law and licences do not work well causing uncertainties and impeding teaching, learning and research.

Working with public, national, educational, health, and research libraries, universities and the wider access to knowledge movement, we aim to build networks and promote copyright reform at the European and national levels, and through our work leave a lasting legacy that influences similar developments elsewhere in the world.

Since its launch in 2021, KR21 has been dedicated to reforming legislation and practices to ensure open access to research, education, and cultural resources in the digital age. Our mission is to level the playing field between researchers, institutions, and publishers by building confidence and capacity for policy change. The project collaborates with European and international library organisations (IFLA, LIBER, and SPARC Europe) along with independent experts and a network of national coordinators.

This crucial work has been made possible by Arcadia. Arcadia helps people to record cultural heritage, to conserve and restore nature, and to promote open access to knowledge. Since 2002, Arcadia has awarded more than $1.2 billion to organisations around the world. This continued funding, amounting to €5.5 million, will allow the project to further invest in building capacity for reforms that enhance 21st-century access to research, education and culture.

During the first phase of Knowledge Rights 21, the project has made significant progress, including:

• Bringing research into the spotlight on the political agenda in Brussels.
• Supporting proposals for dedicated legislation and promoting the idea of a “fifth freedom” – the freedom of movement of knowledge.
• Helping pass best-practice reforms at the national level through the work of KR21 national coordinators.
• Publishing ground-breaking research on critical issues like secondary publishing rights, rights retention and open licensing, and flexibility in copyright laws for research.
• Developing and mobilising networks of researchers, librarians, digital rights activists and more at national level.

Accelerating Change: Focus for the Next Five Years

With the very welcome announcement of Arcadia’s continued support, we are entering the second phase of the Knowledge Rights 21 Programme. Our key priorities include:

• Leveraging opportunities for positive reform under the new European Commission and Parliament.
• Promoting national legislation, regulation and practices that enable and support the work of European researchers, educators, learners, readers and the libraries that support them.
• Expanding and strengthening national networks to amplify the voice for change.
• Ensuring that the research, education and reading community and the libraries that support them are best able to realise the potential of any reforms passed as well as take the lead in promoting openness and local policy change.

Stay Updated and Get Involved

We are excited about the future and invite you to join us on this journey. Follow the Knowledge Rights 21 website and sign up to the Newsletter to stay informed about the project’s work, new developments, and opportunities to engage.

Together, we can ensure that access to knowledge continues to grow and thrive in the digital age.