As librarians pursue ways to offer online programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, many publishers and authors are temporarily relaxing copyright restrictions to allow for virtual library programming using their works. Below is a list of resources, articles, and information regarding copyright. This list will be updated frequently as VTLIB staff come across additional information.
Group Sourced Documents
- VT School Library Association (VSLA) is continually updating a document on School Resources for Teachers. Section 6 has resources on copyright (and will be updated as they come across additional copyright releases/information).
- This group-sourced Google document lists “Author Permissions for Book Reading Recordings.” It includes publishers that have given blanket permission.
Individual Publisher Permissions
- Boyds, Mills, & Kane offers permissions with some restrictions.
- HarperCollins Children's Books offers permissions with some restrictions. (SLJ article 3/18/2020)
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers offers permissions for educators with some restrictions.
- Macmillan Updates Content Use Guidelines (SLJ article 3/19/2020)
- Penguin/Random House offers a temporary open license for online story times (with rules and restrictions).
- Scholastic temporarily revises its policy for online read-alouds. (SLJ article 3/17/2020)
- Simon & Schuster Online Book Reading Guidelines
Additional Resources
- Fair Use Webinar (Presented by the Washington School of Law at American University's Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x3S-8wZikw
- From EdSurge: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-03-30-can-teachers-read-books-out-loud-online-actually-yes
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From School Library Journal:
- "Publishers Adapt Policies to Help Educators"
- "Tackling Copyright Concerns When Taking Storytime Online"
- Storytime copyright tips from the Programming Librarian blog (2011 blog post)
- Copyright FAQ’s from the State Library of Iowa
- Public Statement of Library Copyright Specialists: Fair Use & Emergency Remote Teaching and Research - A very thorough document on fair use in higher ed that is applicable to some public library scenarios.
- ACRL Presents: Understanding Fair Use Through Copyright Law (YouTube Video) - A recording of the February 25, 2020 ACRL Presents: Understanding Fair Use Through Case Law, with speakers Sandra Aya Enimil and Maria Scheid.