Copyright in the Library
Course
Understanding Copyright [4:34]
- Learn how copyright applies to your role as a school librarian.
- Learn the differences between Creative Commons and public domain.
- Learn ways to better understand copyright laws and resources.
The school librarian may be the only person in their building who knows about copyright and how its laws apply in the school setting. It is our duty to educate students and staff about how to use materials responsibly and also how to give proper credit in their presentations and projects. School librarians teach lessons about copyright and plagiarism to students and facilitate professional development sessions on these topics with staff. Within the school library, there are many natural examples of copyright. For example, every book, video, and digital resource in the library has a copyright date and specifically details what can be done with its information. Teacher materials in the professional collection, which we will discuss in another segment, may specify whether users are allowed to make copies of the pages for student use.
Some works are not protected by copyright. Works in the public domain are available for anyone to use and have no copyright, license, or fee to use them. In general, works published in the United States before 1923 are in the public domain, in addition to many other resources. Creative Commons is a type of licensing that creators use to establish rules about how people can use their work, including whether it can be modified or used in other creative pursuits. It is important for librarians to teach the differences between copyright, public domain, and creative commons. These rules apply not only to research but also art projects, music compositions, and more. For more information on public domain and creative commons licensing, view the resources portion of this lesson.
The founding fathers of the United States wanted to ensure our democracy supported learning and the progress of the arts and sciences. Because of this, they included copyright in our Constitution, in Article 1, section 8, in order to promote creativity, innovation, and the spread of knowledge among citizens. Since then, Congress continues to make changes to copyright laws, consequences for violations, and what is in public domain. All in all, these changes aim to strike a balance between the rights of users and creators. To better understand copyright laws, visit the websites for the Library of Congress (loc.gov), United States Copyright Office (copyright.gov), and teachingcopyright.org.
As school librarians, we want to encourage our school community to seek out our expertise. We want to point them in the right direction of resources that are going to help them learn, be creative, and succeed. This also means teaching lessons about copyright, including plagiarism, citing sources, and using resources legally. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help us, including the US Copyright Office, the Library of Congress, and more. By knowing the basics, as well as where to go when you have more questions, you will be able to guide your students and staff in being responsible and ethical with their use of materials both in print and online.
While copyright laws can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing, there are several resources online to help librarians understand the basics for their students and staff. In this activity, explore what is available that can help you and your school. After reviewing the resources below, complete the Reflect & Practice activity.
"Copyright and Primary Sources." Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/copyright.html
"Copyright Questions of the Month." A collection of Carol Simpson's column. School Library Connection. https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Home/ResourceList...
"Resources and Education." United States Copyright Office. https://www.copyright.gov/about/
Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Teaching Copyright." https://www.teachingcopyright.org/
After reviewing the resources above, choose one to focus your attention on. Browse through the site to learn more about copyright laws for education. Then, using page 2 of the Course Packet (found in the Resources above), make a plan for how to incorporate the information on this site into a lesson you can teach to students or staff.
MLA Citation
Editorial Team, SLC. "Copyright in the Library: Resources for Copyright Laws." School Library Connection, October 2021, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2264096?learningModuleId=2264095&topicCenterId=2247902.
Entry ID: 2265324
Sometimes students plagiarize even though they know it is wrong, while others plagiarize and have no idea they are doing anything wrong! It is up to the librarian to teach students and staff how to avoid plagiarism and use resources appropriately in research as well as presentations. Reflect below on your response to the scenario presented in the Resources section.
You observe seventh grader Cynthia working hard in the library on her science research project that is due tomorrow. When she finishes, she proudly walks up to you and hands you her laptop to look through her presentation. She is so proud of her work! As you click though, you realize every single word on the screen and her notes is plagiarized from one source – the database you suggested for her to use.
How do you respond to Cynthia's excitement and also explain to her about plagiarism, without getting her upset? Now that you think about it, she was absent the day you taught plagiarism to her class. Using page 3 of the Course Packet (found in the Resources above), brainstorm how you would respond to her and the steps you would take to help her revise her work.
MLA Citation
Editorial Team, SLC. "Copyright in the Library: Identifying the Causes of Plagiarism." School Library Connection, October 2021, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2264096?learningModuleId=2264095&topicCenterId=2247902.
Entry ID: 2269702
Additional Resources
About the Author
MLA Citation
Grover, Rachel. "Copyright in the Library. Understanding Copyright [4:34]." School Library Connection, ABC-CLIO, October 2021, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2264096?learningModuleId=2264095&topicCenterId=2247902.
https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/2264096?learningModuleId=2264095&topicCenterId=2247902
Entry ID: 2264096