Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on the Digital Library Service (Wales) Bill.

Digital Library Service (Wales) Bill

An Act of the Senedd Cymru to establish a Welsh Digital Library Service; and for connected purposes

Section 1: Welsh Digital Library Service

(1) There shall exist a body called the Welsh Digital Library Service, in this Act called "the Service".

(2) The purpose of the Service is to—

(a) promote the digitisation of applicable works by Welsh libraries;

(b) assist libraries with this digitisation; and

(c) make digitised copies of applicable works available to the Welsh public.

(3) The Service shall consist of the Chairperson and a number of other members not exceeding 8.

(4) The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Minister and the other members of the Service shall be appointed by the Chairperson.

Section 2: Digitisation of library contents

(1) In this Act "applicable work" means any work to which the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 applies.

(a) However, "applicable work" does not include any work which cannot be digitised or which would be damaged by the process of digitisation, even if the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 would apply to that work.

(2) By 1st January 2025 libraries must ensure that at least 50% of applicable works are available in a digital format.

(3) By 1st January 2030 libraries must ensure that all applicable works are available in a digital format.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to the National Library of Wales.

(5) By 1st January 2030 the National Library of Wales must ensure that at least 50% of applicable works are available in a digital format.

(6) By 1st January 2040 the National Library of Wales must ensure that at least all applicable works are available in a digital format.

(7) The Service must assist libraries in digitisation by providing—

(a) equipment,

(b) expertise, and

(c) funding

to libraries where necessary.

Section 3: Unification of digital collections

(1) The Service must maintain a website on which Welsh people can access works held by libraries that have been digitised.

(2) The Service must create an app to allow access to digitised works from mobile devices.

(3) Libraries must provide copies of their digitised works to the Service to be added to its website and app.

Section 4: Commencement

This Act enters into force on the day six months after it passes.

** Section 5: Short title**

This Act may be cited as the Digital Library Service (Wales) Act 2023.

This bill was written by the Rt. Hon. Dame Faelif CB GBE PC MP MLA MSP,on behalf of Volt Cymru. It is inspired by the National Digital Library Service Bill.

Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003

Opening Speech by /u/Faelif:

Llywydd,

Last year, we saw the passage in Westminster of the National Digital Library Service Act, requiring libraries to scan their stock and offer it digitally to the public. However, as of course libraries are a devolved matter, this extended only to England, leaving people in Wales still largely unable to access reading material digitally - especially bad for those in rural areas who might be some distance from their nearest library.

The English scheme is a good one, and one which should in my view be replicated here in Wales. This Bill accomplishes that by the creation of a Welsh Digital Library Service to provide libraries with what they need and to make sure everything is available in a central, unified location. This will ensure that everyone has free and unfettered access to knowledge, especially in a world where more and more is done digitally. Additionally, an extended timeline is given for the National Library of Wales, in recognition of their larger stock than most libraries.

Debate on this bill will end on Sunday 3rd September at 10pm BST.