Copyright for Schools: A Practical Guide
by Carol Mann SimpsonOne area which has been a never-ending source of frustration for me is making sure that we’re in compliance with the law regarding copyright issues. Acquiring usage rights for copyrighted material has been a real learning experience. I did find one source that was helpful to me: Copyright for Schools: A Practical Guide by Carol Mann Simpson.
The American Library Association has written the following review of the book:
Revised, expanded, and updated this classic primer for K-12 library professionals now consists of 16 chapters. Chapter 1 covers the basics of copyright law. Chapter 2 brings together information about public domain materials, while chapter 3 addresses fair use and its four main criteria. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 focus on specific formats, including MP3. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 center on distance learning, the Internet, and computer software. Chapters 11 through 15 consider administrative topics such as school library exemptions, permissions and copyright policies. Chapter 16 provides 15 appendixes ranging from a sample copyright compliance agreement to a reproducible copyright-questions-and-answers brochure. Most chapters include a works cited list.
Some online copyright sources include:
- Copyright from the U. S. Copyright Office Very comprehensive, but it covers all areas and uses a lot of legalese http://www.copyright.gov/
- Copyright for Kids http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/schools/jones/Copyright-Kids/
- Copyright for Schools http://cfbstaff.cfbisd.edu/library/copyright_for_schools.htm
- Copyright Sources for Schools and Libraries Hotlist http://dpi.state.wi.us/lbstat/copyres.html