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. Please read the individual pages carefully, as they can differ significantly as to their requirements and limitations.
These publishers have extended permissions beyond June 30 or did not indicate a specific expiration date:
- Boyds Mills & Kane – through Dec. 31: https://boydsmillsandkane.com/permissions2020/
- Candlewick Press – "Remain in effect until your school, library, or venue reopen in full": https://www.candlewick.com/covid-19.asp
- Cherry Lake/Sleeping Bear – through Dec. 31: https://cherrylakepublishing.com/recording_guidelines
- Cottage Door Press – no stated expiration: https://cottagedoorpress.com/pages/rights-and-activities
- HarperCollins – through Dec. 31: School Library Journal
- Holiday House – no stated expiration: https://holidayhouse.com/holiday-house-resources/
- Macmillan – through Dec. 31: https://us.macmillan.com/macmillan-content-use-guidelines/
- Penguin Random House – through Dec. 31: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/penguin-random-house-temporary-open-license/
- Simon & Schuster – through Dec. 31: https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/online-read-aloud-guidelines
- Sourcebooks – through Dec. 31: https://www.sourcebooks.com/online-storytime-requests.html
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.
Earlier Individual Publisher Permissions
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers offers permissions for educators with some restrictions.
- Scholastic temporarily revises its policy for online read-alouds. (SLJ article 3/17/2020)
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
-
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.