Intellectual Rights and Copyright issues.

READING ASSIGNMENT:  2.) Intellectual Rights and Copyright issues.

TITLE OF THE ARTICLE(S): “Developing Library and Information Center Collections”

AUTHOR (S):  Evans, G. E., Saponaro, M.Z.

PUBLISHER(S):   Libraries unlimited, Westport: London. 2005.

URL:  None

Abstract of the article(s): (1-2 paragraph/s):

Libraries have modified copyright policies as well as inter-library loan practices.  A look at the present law, a library in a not-for-profit setting may borrow no more than five articles per year from any given journal.  If the library borrows more than five articles, the assumption is that the borrowing is in lieu of placing a subscription and thus is a violation of the law. If libraries cannot freely exchange books, periodicals or photocopies of copyrighted items, it is difficult to develop and maintain effective cooperative systems. 

Copyright grants the creators of works certain rights that protect their interest in the work.  Originally, copyright’s purpose was to provide protection against unauthorized printing, publishing, importing, or selling of multiple copies of a work.  In essence it was protection from the unauthorized mass production and sale of a work.

Three things I learned from my Reading Assignment:

1. Libraries exist to disseminate information on a mass, usually free, basis.

2. The relationship between copyright holders and libraries is cordial and friendly.

3. Creators of works reserve certain rights that protect their interest and their work and it should be respected.

Application/Implication of the new things I learned to my work/to me as a person:

Unauthorized and mass production of creator’s work for profit or commercial purposes is prohibited.  It is against the law either digitally or in print format.  The law extends copyright protection to unpublished works. I am expected to have some knowledge on these laws so as to guide library users on the fair use of the materials.