CFLA provides a united national voice on copyright issues for Canada’s library community, bringing together subject matter experts from member associations across sectors and regions to discuss emerging issues and respond to federal government consultation related to the Copyright Act.
CFLA produces guidance and position statements to support libraries in meeting service needs that include providing accessible formats, using crown-published works, digitizing materials, licensing digital content, respecting Indigenous knowledge rights, and supporting open access and secondary publishing rights. These documents are available under Resources.
CFLA represents Canada’s libraries internationally and is an accredited observer for the United Nations World Intellectual Property Forum Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights. In this forum, CFLA representatives work with colleagues from the International Federation of Library Associations to further the role of libraries in serving the public interest, in particular to better meet the needs of users who rely on libraries for cross-border research and for accessible formats. CFLA was represented in May 2026 by Victoria Owen, University of Toronto.
CFLA Publications
Recent statements and guides on copyright issues in Canadian libraries include:
- 2025 – Accessible Content: A Guide to the Canadian Copyright Act on Searching for Accessible Formats and Producing and Distributing Alternate Formats (PDF | EPUB)
- 2024 – Navigating Copyright for Crown Published Works: A Code of Best Practices for Libraries
- 2024 – Public Lending Right Position Paper
- 2023 – Secondary Publishing Rights and Open Access Position Paper
- 2022 – AI and Copyright and its Application in Cultural Heritage Institutions Position Paper
- 2022 – Controlled Digital Lending Position Statement
- 2022 – Right to Repair, Interoperability and Technological Protection Measures Position Statement
View the full list under Resources.
Member Groups
The Copyright and AI Task Force is preparing a guidance statement for libraries that will include background on copyright considerations for libraries related to AI.
Chair: Ann Ludbrook, Toronto Metropolitan University
The Copyright Community of Interest meets virtually on a monthly basis to discuss emerging issues and identify areas that may require CFLA discussion and action.
Coordinator: Don Taylor, Simon Fraser University