Copyright Policies and Workflows in Libraries: A Concise Handbook

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Copyright Basics Chapter 3 Writing a Policy & Making it Official Chapter 4 Policy Drafting Based on Library Type Chapter 5 Incorporating the Policy into Daily Work Chapter 6 Sample Policies Resources and Further Reading About the Author Index

About the Author :
Allyson Mower, MA, MLIS is Head of Scholarly Communication & Copyright at the University of Utah Marriott Library. She has worked as a copyright librarian for ten years. Allyson provides the U of U community and the general public with information, tools, and services related to both copyright and publishing. As a tenured faculty member, she researches the history of authorship and scholarly communication at the institution and writes about intellectual freedom and privacy for ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Blog. Currently, Allyson chairs the Copyright Education Committee of the Utah Library Association and provides workshops and training programs on copyright to Utah librarians. She has presented on copyright at various conferences including the Brigham Young University Copyright Symposium, Innovative Librarians Explore, Apply, and Discover (ILEAD), and the San Jose State University Open Access & Digital Repository Symposium. Allyson was a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2008, was nominated as a 2012 Society for Scholarly Publishing Emerging Leader, and served as the U of U Academic Senate President in 2014.

Review :
Most library professionals face copyright questions. Fortunately, Mower offers clear, practical information and guidance. Any library with a copyright policy or thinking of drafting one should consult this book. Ms. Mower provides excellent examples of copyright policies for all types of libraries while explaining how different sections of the copyright law would work within each policy. Even more beneficial is the workflow section which gives concrete suggestions. This is a must-read for anyone who has to craft and implement copyright policies in a variety of situations. Copyright law is challenging to interpret. As a result, it can be difficult for library employees and patrons to know with confidence whether they are operating within its bounds. Copyright Policies and Workflows in Libraries: A Concise Handbook by Allyson Mower offers practical guidance intended to help libraries reduce some of this uncertainty through policies and workflows.... In simple prose, Mower balances the necessity of a case-by-case analysis for each use of copyrighted material with the kind of one-size-fits-all, prescriptive guidance library employees might crave.... Copyright Policies and Workflows in Libraries is a valuable addition to the corpus of literature on copyright law and its application in libraries and archives and fills a gap by addressing this topic from a policy and workflow perspective. The book is written for audiences in all types of libraries. It would be a wise purchase for libraries that are either revising or newly drafting a copyright policy and would be of particular benefit to those who are new to policy and workflow creation who may be unfamiliar with those forms of writing. Most librarians have a conceptual grasp of copyright but a less developed understanding of provisions within the US Code that allow them to balance the competing interests of rights holders and information users: in particular, the sections addressing fair use, library and archive reproduction, and teaching. Mower (Univ. of Utah, Marriott Library) recognizes the need for established policy and workflow to prepare all librarians in advance for the inevitable copyright questions. Copyright is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Neither should the approach to navigating it be a uniform one. Mower draws distinctions between the various types of copyright issues that can arise in selected library settings. Information requirements differ greatly across school, academic, public, and special library constituencies--but what they all share is a need for guidance on navigating copyright. This slim, five-chapter handbook offers a roadmap for policy-making (which is a prerequisite for decision-making) and copyright workflow practices, no matter the library type. As it is a truly concise handbook with a unique objective, librarians in all settings will get immediate, practical use out of this guide. Included are numerous sample copyright policies and references to tools for fielding copyright issues. . . Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and professionals. Mower has written an outstanding guide to copyright issues. One of the book's strengths is its substantial range and depth of information on copyright. Mower breaks down the basic principles of copyright that are relevant to libraries, explains what is and isn't protected by copyright, and offers advice for developing a copyright policy (start with an existing policy, think about where the library fits in a broader context, and find others with whom to collaborate). Mower explains often-complicated copyright barriers in digestible, easy-to-understand language, making the book ideal for readers unfamiliar with the subject. She also offers guidance on the challenge of translating copyright policies into workflow design. Featuring samples of procedures and policies, this volume provides a wealth of information for all librarians dealing with copyright. This concise book is a helpful overview of how to create and use copyright policies in a va­riety of library settings. Likely to be helpful to librarians unfamiliar with copyright law in reviewing and drafting copyright policies.