Public lending right

The PLR scheme has existed since 1946, and in 2018 Denmark was the first country in the world to pay PLR for e-books and net audio books. PLR is paid on the basis of books, e-books, net audio books, which are available in Danish and that can be borrowed from Danish public and school libraries, and music and visual art, which can be borrowed from Danish public libraries.

In brief 

Grants for books:

The vast majority of PLR is paid for books; approximately DKK 206 million. The number of recipients of grants for books in 2024: 10,328.

Grants for music, net audio books and e-audio books:

Paid to the artists (musicians, composers, soloists, directors, etc.) and readers of audio books. A bit more than DKK 7 million are available in the payment fund in 2024.

Grants for visual art:

Paid for original art, graphics and photographs that can be borrowed from the country’s libraries. A bit more than DKK 213,000 are available in the payment fund in 2024.

Learn more about the Danish PLR scheme (web pages in Danish)

Contact the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces’ press contact