Websites to keep Tabs on
Know Your Copyrights:
Using Copyrighted Works in Academic Settings
Know Your Copyrights is an educational initiative supported by the Association for Research Libraries (http://www.knowyourcopyrights.org). It focuses on helping libraries and librarians develop materials and a message on the importance of understanding copyright.
Some of the pages featured on this website may seem a bit outdated, as the last update indicated is 2007, but those are largely pages that have to do with the principles behind advocating for understanding and knowledge of copyright, which may not necessarily change frequently.
United States Copyright Office
The US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov) is a robust web site covering everything to do with the titular office, from the activities of the office and its staff, to the full-text of laws pertaining to copyright in the US. While much of this official site is comprised of very detailed, in-depth text, it also prominently features links to copyright information appropriate for all ages and levels of interest. This is an excellent website to bookmark for fielding reference questions about copyright.
Copyright Advisory Office
Columbia University Libraries/Information Services
http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/
Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office website has an entire subset of pages devoted to Libraries and Copyright. While some of this information is repeated in other resources I've cited in this pathfinder, this site is unique in the shortcuts it can offer librarians. Notable features include a cheat sheet on Section 108 (Fair Use) as it applies to libraries, as well as a printable PDF of a "Copyright Checklist" for items the library needs to copy for preservation or replacement purposes (for example: the original material is deteriorating, or is highly likely to be damaged in being handled by users). Bookmark this one. It has some excellent, quick resources that will be useful to have on hand.
Copyright Advisory Network
from ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy
http://librarycopyright.net
This site is hosted by the American Library Association, and bills itself as "a community of librarians, copyright scholars, policy wonks." There is a log-in feature on the site that is attached to whether or not the user is an ALA member, but it still features a number of useful resources for non-members, as well. There are dozens of pages of forum discussions about copyright issues pertaining to librarians and libraries, and on the "Resources" page, a handful of digital brochure/pamphlet-type documents designed to help solve copyright queries or problems.
The Copyright Genie, for example, is a web-based quiz that takes the user through a number of questions to determine whether a work is covered by US copyright, and ultimately, whether it is usable, and for what purposes. Similar web forms that can be found on this site include the Fair Use Evaluator, Section 108 Spinner, and Exceptions for Instructors Tool. This is a good site for any librarian to have bookmarked. It doesn't contain much in the way of legal text or history of copyright, but is simple and useful in determining whether and how various materials can be used.
Creative Commons
Looking for an alternative license to use to publish your work such that you can others can legally share, use, and build upon it? Look no further than the Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org). The Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that works toward developing the legal and technical infrastructure that allows for that kind of sharing. The organization's website features information about different types of Creative Commons licenses, as well as an interactive quiz that can help the user determine what license is best for their individual piece of work. They also offer information on how to properly attribute licensed material. This video is a great introduction to the Creative Commons!
Copyright from the School Library Journal's Website
"News and Advice on copyright issues for librarians and educators from School Library Journal."
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/csp/cms/sites/SLJ/Articles/Copyright/index.csp
This page is an index more than an independent site, but is still a good resource for librarians who would like to keep track of copyright news and questions that may effect them directly. School Library Journal collects and maintains a list of articles and stories on the subject that appear on their site into one handy page for easier browsing. The articles range from Q&A sessions with Carrie Russell (author of Complete Copyright for K-12 Librarians and Educators, discussed on the books page of this guide) and librarians with questions about copyright issues, to news items regarding new resources for further copyright information. This is a good site to check periodically, or subscribe to by RSS feed.
Copyright PageMidwest Collaborative for Library Services
http://www.mlcnet.org/cms/sitem.cfm/library_tools/copyright_/
The information on this site is up-to-date, if not very thorough. The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services page on copyright features an extensive list of links to useful copyright resources on the web--some sites linked to have been included in this very guide! It also includes copies of the specific language featured in Section 108, as well as a brief text guides to copyright issues specific to digitization, interlibrary loan, and the Online Service Providers' Limitation on Liability per the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The Copyright Links portion of this site, which consists of 58 links to other copyright-related resources, is probably the most useful, and appears to be updated regularly. It would be worthwhile to skim the list periodically for new additions.
Using Copyrighted Works in Academic Settings
Know Your Copyrights is an educational initiative supported by the Association for Research Libraries (http://www.knowyourcopyrights.org). It focuses on helping libraries and librarians develop materials and a message on the importance of understanding copyright.
Some of the pages featured on this website may seem a bit outdated, as the last update indicated is 2007, but those are largely pages that have to do with the principles behind advocating for understanding and knowledge of copyright, which may not necessarily change frequently.
United States Copyright Office
The US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov) is a robust web site covering everything to do with the titular office, from the activities of the office and its staff, to the full-text of laws pertaining to copyright in the US. While much of this official site is comprised of very detailed, in-depth text, it also prominently features links to copyright information appropriate for all ages and levels of interest. This is an excellent website to bookmark for fielding reference questions about copyright.
Copyright Advisory Office
Columbia University Libraries/Information Services
http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/
Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office website has an entire subset of pages devoted to Libraries and Copyright. While some of this information is repeated in other resources I've cited in this pathfinder, this site is unique in the shortcuts it can offer librarians. Notable features include a cheat sheet on Section 108 (Fair Use) as it applies to libraries, as well as a printable PDF of a "Copyright Checklist" for items the library needs to copy for preservation or replacement purposes (for example: the original material is deteriorating, or is highly likely to be damaged in being handled by users). Bookmark this one. It has some excellent, quick resources that will be useful to have on hand.
Copyright Advisory Network
from ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy
http://librarycopyright.net
This site is hosted by the American Library Association, and bills itself as "a community of librarians, copyright scholars, policy wonks." There is a log-in feature on the site that is attached to whether or not the user is an ALA member, but it still features a number of useful resources for non-members, as well. There are dozens of pages of forum discussions about copyright issues pertaining to librarians and libraries, and on the "Resources" page, a handful of digital brochure/pamphlet-type documents designed to help solve copyright queries or problems.
The Copyright Genie, for example, is a web-based quiz that takes the user through a number of questions to determine whether a work is covered by US copyright, and ultimately, whether it is usable, and for what purposes. Similar web forms that can be found on this site include the Fair Use Evaluator, Section 108 Spinner, and Exceptions for Instructors Tool. This is a good site for any librarian to have bookmarked. It doesn't contain much in the way of legal text or history of copyright, but is simple and useful in determining whether and how various materials can be used.
Creative Commons
Looking for an alternative license to use to publish your work such that you can others can legally share, use, and build upon it? Look no further than the Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org). The Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that works toward developing the legal and technical infrastructure that allows for that kind of sharing. The organization's website features information about different types of Creative Commons licenses, as well as an interactive quiz that can help the user determine what license is best for their individual piece of work. They also offer information on how to properly attribute licensed material. This video is a great introduction to the Creative Commons!
Copyright from the School Library Journal's Website
"News and Advice on copyright issues for librarians and educators from School Library Journal."
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/csp/cms/sites/SLJ/Articles/Copyright/index.csp
This page is an index more than an independent site, but is still a good resource for librarians who would like to keep track of copyright news and questions that may effect them directly. School Library Journal collects and maintains a list of articles and stories on the subject that appear on their site into one handy page for easier browsing. The articles range from Q&A sessions with Carrie Russell (author of Complete Copyright for K-12 Librarians and Educators, discussed on the books page of this guide) and librarians with questions about copyright issues, to news items regarding new resources for further copyright information. This is a good site to check periodically, or subscribe to by RSS feed.
Copyright PageMidwest Collaborative for Library Services
http://www.mlcnet.org/cms/sitem.cfm/library_tools/copyright_/
The information on this site is up-to-date, if not very thorough. The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services page on copyright features an extensive list of links to useful copyright resources on the web--some sites linked to have been included in this very guide! It also includes copies of the specific language featured in Section 108, as well as a brief text guides to copyright issues specific to digitization, interlibrary loan, and the Online Service Providers' Limitation on Liability per the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The Copyright Links portion of this site, which consists of 58 links to other copyright-related resources, is probably the most useful, and appears to be updated regularly. It would be worthwhile to skim the list periodically for new additions.
Blogs to Follow
Copyright Librarian
Nancy Sims
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/copyrightlibn/
Nancy Sims is both a lawyer, and the Copyright Program Librarian at the University of Minnesota Libraries. This is a less traditional resource, but one that is good for keeping abreast of current copyright issues as they pertain to education and research. This blog is recommended more for those who are interested in the subject, rather than doing research on it--although Sims' blog does point to links that may prove useful. Although--as her site's disclaimer states--her blog consists primarily of her own opinions, her critical analysis of the issues she discusses are well-written and interesting.
Sims, N. Author's Guild v Hathi Trust: a Win for copyright's public interest purpose. Retrieved December 4, 2012, from
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/copyrightlibn/2012/10/authors-guild-v-hathi-trust-a-win-for-copyrights-public-interest-purpose.html.
Stanford University Libraries' Copyright and Fair Use Website and Blog
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/
Stanford University Libraries maintain a dynamic website for all things copyright-related. While not all of the information is specific to a librarian audience (particularly in the Copyright Opinions and other court documents tabs), the site gives an outstanding, complete picture of copyright news, changes, challenges, and updates. It also features widgets for various Twitter accounts and videos that address copyright issues. It is also home to Stanford Libraries' own Fairly Used Blog, but that hasn't been updated since January 2012. It is unclear whether the blog will resume updates at some point or not.
The top of the home page features internal links to other portions of the site such as "Libraries & Education," home to links for library-specific copyright resources. There are also links to primary sources for copyright information, like the US Constitution. The breadth and depth of information Stanford University's site has to offer is incredibly thorough, and is a must for librarians to have in their copyright toolbox.
Nancy Sims
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/copyrightlibn/
Nancy Sims is both a lawyer, and the Copyright Program Librarian at the University of Minnesota Libraries. This is a less traditional resource, but one that is good for keeping abreast of current copyright issues as they pertain to education and research. This blog is recommended more for those who are interested in the subject, rather than doing research on it--although Sims' blog does point to links that may prove useful. Although--as her site's disclaimer states--her blog consists primarily of her own opinions, her critical analysis of the issues she discusses are well-written and interesting.
Sims, N. Author's Guild v Hathi Trust: a Win for copyright's public interest purpose. Retrieved December 4, 2012, from
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/copyrightlibn/2012/10/authors-guild-v-hathi-trust-a-win-for-copyrights-public-interest-purpose.html.
Stanford University Libraries' Copyright and Fair Use Website and Blog
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/
Stanford University Libraries maintain a dynamic website for all things copyright-related. While not all of the information is specific to a librarian audience (particularly in the Copyright Opinions and other court documents tabs), the site gives an outstanding, complete picture of copyright news, changes, challenges, and updates. It also features widgets for various Twitter accounts and videos that address copyright issues. It is also home to Stanford Libraries' own Fairly Used Blog, but that hasn't been updated since January 2012. It is unclear whether the blog will resume updates at some point or not.
The top of the home page features internal links to other portions of the site such as "Libraries & Education," home to links for library-specific copyright resources. There are also links to primary sources for copyright information, like the US Constitution. The breadth and depth of information Stanford University's site has to offer is incredibly thorough, and is a must for librarians to have in their copyright toolbox.
Other Web-Based Resources
Copyright for Librarians: An (Open Access!) Online Course
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/copyrightforlibrarians/Main_Page
Through a collaboration between Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society and Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL), this open access online coursewas born. The material was designed with the goal of informing librarians about copyright law and the aspects of that law that most affect libraries--specifically those in developing countries. The curriculum consists of nine modules, and an accompanying glossary, covering subjects like "Copyright and the Public Domain," "The Scope of Copyright Law," and "Creative Approaches & Alternatives."
Modules consist of case studies, assignments, additional/outside readings, and discussion questions. The modules themselves are large blocks of text, but the "Additional Resources" segment of each module occasionally features other media. The modules are designed to have three major applications, according to the introduction: a self-taught course; traditional, classroom-based work; or a distance-learning environment, however, anyone interested is encouraged to adapt the material to fit their needs however they see fit. It is easy to tailor each of the modules to a given librarian/library's specific needs and interests.
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/copyrightforlibrarians/Main_Page
Through a collaboration between Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society and Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL), this open access online coursewas born. The material was designed with the goal of informing librarians about copyright law and the aspects of that law that most affect libraries--specifically those in developing countries. The curriculum consists of nine modules, and an accompanying glossary, covering subjects like "Copyright and the Public Domain," "The Scope of Copyright Law," and "Creative Approaches & Alternatives."
Modules consist of case studies, assignments, additional/outside readings, and discussion questions. The modules themselves are large blocks of text, but the "Additional Resources" segment of each module occasionally features other media. The modules are designed to have three major applications, according to the introduction: a self-taught course; traditional, classroom-based work; or a distance-learning environment, however, anyone interested is encouraged to adapt the material to fit their needs however they see fit. It is easy to tailor each of the modules to a given librarian/library's specific needs and interests.
Copyright Crash Course
While the title labels this website as hosting a "course," it is less structured in modules than the online course mentioned above. Maintained by the University of Texas Libraries, Copyright Crash Course hosts a number of articles and documents with helpful titles, such as "Who owns what you just created..." and "Manage your copyrights," breaking down the subject into more digestible pieces.
There is also an entire segment of this site entitled "Copyright in the Library," which is devoted to addressing copyright issues specific to the library environment. Copyright Crash Course is updated regularly (most recently, September of 2012) by UT Austin's Libraries Scholarly Communications Advisor. The information on this site is likely to be correct and up-to-date.
Harper, G.K. (2001). The copyright crash course. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from http://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/index.html.
There is also an entire segment of this site entitled "Copyright in the Library," which is devoted to addressing copyright issues specific to the library environment. Copyright Crash Course is updated regularly (most recently, September of 2012) by UT Austin's Libraries Scholarly Communications Advisor. The information on this site is likely to be correct and up-to-date.
Harper, G.K. (2001). The copyright crash course. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from http://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/index.html.