Roy Ransom
LS 5263 Information Sources and Services
Topical LibGuide: Copyright in Libraries
Introduction
Copyright is the right of an author or creator to maintain control and ownership of content they have generated. As information becomes easier to access, it has also become easier to commit copyright violations, whether intentionally or by accident. In an academic or library setting, where information is available to and used by a large number of people, from a large variety of sources, and with relatively little oversight, copyright compliance becomes both important and difficult to enforce. Copyright violations can be common, especially through use of material in an electronic reserve or course management system. This guide will provide resources and research discussing the nature of copyright and aspects of copyright law such as fair use. There will be a particular focus on copyright issues as they apply to libraries, including who is responsible for copyright violations in a library setting and the effects of copyright on reserves (both print and electronic) in academic libraries.
Resources
Fineberg, T. (2009). Copyright and course management systems: Educational use of copyrighted materials in the United States and the United Kingdom. Libri:
International Journal Of Libraries & Information Services, 59(4),
238-247.
Summary: This article discusses current guidelines for use of copyrighted
material in an academic or academic library setting. Topics discussed include
fair use guidelines and copyright permission options offered by the Copyright
Clearance Center.
Research method used: Examination of university libraries, copyright laws,
and Copyright Clearance Center guidelines.
Currency: The article was published in 2009, using current information from
universities and the Copyright Clearance Center.
Relevance: The necessary steps and guidelines for obtaining copyright
approval for items being used in an electronic educational context is relevant
to the subject of copyright in libraries and academic settings.
Authority: The author is affiliated with the Pratt Institute, a university
offering library science courses. Her contact information is provided.
Accuracy: The author’s sources are listed, and the article has been
peer-reviewed.
Purpose: The purpose of the article is to examine current guidelines and
best practices for copyright compliance in online course materials.
Applicability in library setting: The copyright compliance issues raised in
the article are discussed in terms of the use of material in an online classroom or course management system, but they apply to a library setting as well; course management systems are
often similar to or even interchangeable with electronic reserve systems, and
so the copyright requirements for materials being placed in these systems are
very similar. An examination of copyright guidelines for course management systems
can easily be applied or adapted to electronic reserves in an academic library.
Foss, M., & Dawes, T. A. (2010). Assessing reserve management systems:
Do they deliver on their promises? Journal Of Interlibrary Loan, Document
Delivery & Electronic Reserves, 20(2), 67-75.
Summary: The article discusses various reserves management systems in
university libraries, including the role that copyright procedures play in
making items available through electronic reserve or Blackboard. The conclusion
is that no single system meets all the needs of its users, but that a combination
of systems can be used.
Research method used: User survey or academic librarians.
Currency: The article was published in 2010, using data from a 2009 survey.
Relevance: The article directly discusses perceptions of copyright
procedures by librarians who deal with reserves.
Authority: The authors are both librarians at major universities (University
of Florida Gainesville and Princeton University), and contact information is
provided. Furthermore, the study discussed was conducted by the authors themselves.
Accuracy: Information in the article is drawn from research conducted by the
authors in the form of a survey. The survey questions and results are presented
to the reader, and the article comes from a peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
Purpose: The purpose of the article is to discuss the various systems used
in academic libraries to deliver reserves services to their users, including
the role that copyright issues play in those services.
Applicability in library setting: This article is directly applicable to
academic libraries providing reserve services, especially electronic reserves.
Its survey of current practices allows readers to compare their experiences
with the systems and techniques used by the respondents, potentially helping to
develop new procedures or practices.
Oliver, A. (2008). Current practices and philosophy on electronic reserves, course management systems, and copyright compliance: A survey of the Council of
Public Liberal Arts Colleges Libraries. Journal Of Interlibrary Loan,
Document Delivery & Electronic Reserves, 18(4), 425-437.
Summary: The article discusses current procedures used to maintain copyright
compliance in academic library reserve systems and in course management
systems, including whether or not course management systems are monitored by
their institutions for copyright compliance.
Research method used: Survey of academic libraries.
Currency: The article was published in 2008, using data from a survey
conducted in 2007.
Relevance: The article is entirely concerned with the levels of copyright
compliance and the sources of payment (if any) for copyright approval in
electronic reserves and course management systems in academic libraries.
However, the sample size is relatively small, only 13 libraries.
Authority: The author is an access services librarian in an academic
library. Contact information is provided. The author is qualified to discuss
copyright compliance issues in reserves.
Accuracy: Information in the article is drawn from research conducted by the
author, and both the survey questions used and the data gathered is presented.
Additionally, the journal is peer-reviewed.
Purpose: The purpose of the article is to examine the current implementation
of electronic reserve systems, including whether or not they are integrated
with course management systems, to determine who is primarily responsible for
ensuring copyright compliance.
Applicability in library setting: Although the sample size of 13 university
libraries is fairly small, the data gathered is still a useful look at how
these academic libraries are performing e-reserve services and where they place
responsibility for complying with copyright (or if they place responsibility at
all). Given the importance of copyright compliance, it is instructive to be
able to see how other university libraries approach the issue.
Schlosser, M. (2009). Unless otherwise indicated: A survey of copyright statements on digital library collections. College & Research Libraries,
70(4), 371-385.
Summary: The article studies the use of copyright statements, or lack
thereof, attached to items in digital collections, using members of the Digital
Library Federation. Results indicate that there is no standard practice for
these copyright statements, and that when present, statements are frequently
misleading or unclear.
Research method used: Examination of digital library collections.
Currency: The article is from 2009, using data gathered from contemporary
digital collections and items.
Relevance: The topic of copyright statements in digital collections is
important to the practice of copyright compliance in a library setting.
Authority: The author is an assistant professor at Ohio State University
Libraries. Contact information is provided.
Accuracy: The author clearly defines what constitutes a copyright statement
for the purposes of the article, and provides data to show the percentage of collections
examined which contain copyright statements as well as examples of statements
to support her conclusions. Additionally, the article is peer-reviewed.
Purpose: The article’s purpose is to examine the effectiveness of copyright
statements in digital library collections, as well as the prevalence of such
statements.
Applicability in library setting: The article’s conclusion that when
copyright statements are present, they are frequently unhelpful or misleading,
is an important one for any library with a digital collection. An awareness of
what constitutes an effective copyright statement can also be helpful for
libraries offering e-reserve services. Because proper copyright attribution is
important in digital collections and digital library services, the article is
extremely applicable to such situations.
Wu, H., Chou, C., Ke, H., & Wang, M. (2010). College students'
misunderstandings about copyright laws for digital library resources. Electronic
Library, 28(2), 197-209.
Summary: The article discusses problems which arise in usage of digital
resources in academic libraries due to misunderstanding on the part of students
regarding copyright law and compliance. Both students and librarians are
interviewed to determine ways in which students frequently violate copyright
due to lack of knowledge regarding proper procedure.
Research method used: Interviews with librarians combined with survey of
students.
Currency: The article was published in 2010, using research conducted in
2009.
Relevance: The activities of students which can frequently violate copyright
laws are highly relevant to a discussion of copyright issues in academic
libraries.
Authority: The authors are all university professors or doctoral students.
They are qualified to discuss the topic of copyright compliance
misunderstandings among students.
Accuracy: The information was gathered by the authors, and their data is
presented within the article. The questions presented to students are listed,
and the methodology of the research is clearly explained.
Purpose: The purpose of the article is to determine the main areas in which
students frequently fail to understand copyright laws or requirements,
including behavior which is prohibited by copyright law but which students
assume is allowed.
Applicability in library setting: The information presented in this article
is extremely applicable to any academic library setting, in which students often
violate copyright laws, whether intentionally or not. The frequency with which
the violations are unintentional or uninformed are evidence of the importance
of this research.
Wyatt, A., & Hahn, S. E. (2011). Copyright concerns triggered by web 2.0
uses. Reference Services Review, 39(2), 303-317.
Summary: The article describes the potential for copyright violations in web
2.0 library services, such as library blogs, reference chats, and library
podcasts. The ability to interact with information in web 2.0 settings offers
many opportunities for inadvertent violation of copyright laws.
Research method used: Examination of web 2.0 technologies.
Currency: The article was published in 2010, using current information on
web 2.0 technologies and implementation.
Relevance: Web 2.0 services are becoming more common in libraries, due to
their popularity and effectiveness in providing library service; the increased
potential for copyright violations is important to a discussion of copyright in
libraries.
Authority: The authors are located in an academic library, and contact
information is provided.
Accuracy: The information in the article was gathered by the authors from
current web 2.0 technologies. Additionally, the article is peer-reviewed.
Purpose: The purpose of the article is to highlight the potential for copyright
violations when web 2.0 technologies and programs are employed as part of library
services.
Applicability in library setting: The growing frequency of web 2.0 services
in libraries makes it very important for both librarians and library patrons to
be aware of the potential for copyright violations which these services carry. As
web 2.0 technologies continue to be utilized in a library context, it will
become more important to educate users on their responsibilities when using
these services.
