[Purpose/significance] This paper discussed the positive impact of the application of the first sale doctrine on distribution and utilization of digital works, and put forward legislative proposals.[Method/process] It analyzed the legal characteristics of the first sale doctrine and obstacles in the application of such doctrine to digital technology and network context, introduced theoretical study, legislation and judicial practice, and analyzed the application of distribution right to network context on the basis of China's judicial interpretation and library copyright cases.[Result/conclusion] In China's legal context, the behavior of communication through information network includes distribution. And when libraries' operations and services based on communication through information network are constrained by the distribution right, it is proper to legislate for the digital first sale doctrine. We should detail the application requirements in terms of the types of library, library's purpose, nature, object and behavior in spreading and utilizing digital works, and the scope of the works, and give such doctrine the attributes as that of peremptory norm.