Updated on January 8, 2026, at 10:47 a.m. EST
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published an addendum (pages 30–31) to the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries (2012), providing updated guidance on making copies of library materials for people with disabilities.
The addendum clarifies ambiguities in copyright law referenced in the original Code that have since been resolved by case law and statute, particularly Authors Guild v. HathiTrust and the 2018 Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act. The addendum offers guidance to libraries on providing accessible materials to print-disabled members of a college or university community; clarifies that “eligible persons” include people with mobility impairments and learning disabilities; and explains that libraries can rely on fair use to create accessible versions of materials beyond literary works and musical works.
“Since its publication, both the courts and the Congress have taken steps that support the principles in the ARL Code of Best Practices,” said Brandon Butler, executive director of the Re:Create Coalition. “This addendum collects key updates on accessibility, which we hope will further encourage libraries to flex their rights on behalf of users in their communities.”
“The updates demonstrate that copyright law supports accessibility rather than hindering it,” said Katherine Klosek, director of Information Policy at ARL. “They empower libraries and other institutions to apply the law with confidence, moving beyond outdated guidelines that may have unnecessarily limited their ability to serve users with disabilities.”
The Code was originally created as a partnership between ARL; the Center for Media and Social Impact (CMSI), School of Communication, American University; and the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property, Washington College of Law, American University, with input from librarians around the country. See the CMSI landing page for other Codes of Best Practices in the series.
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit membership organization of research libraries and archives in major public and private universities, federal government agencies, and large public institutions in Canada and the US. ARL champions research libraries and archives, develops visionary leaders, and shapes policy for the equitable advancement of knowledge.
