Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) has emerged as a sensible strategy for libraries seeking to expand access to physical collections in digital environments. Grounded in the core "owned-to-loaned" principle, CDL allows libraries to lend digitized versions of legally acquired print materials under controlled conditions that mirror physical circulation, including user authentication, limited loan periods, and technical access controls. Even with the ongoing legal and policy debates, this session will center on understanding how CDL can function in day-to-day library operations, the decision-making that guides its use, and the role it can play in advancing library service missions and strengthening connections.
