LibGuides: Copyright Guide for Library Staff: Home

Welcome to the copyright guide for Library staff.

The purpose of this guide is to give Library Services staff easy access to information, resources, and tools to help you understand how copyright law impacts their daily work. The hope is that you'll use this to find out how copyright governs some of our processes and services and learn more about this fascinating subject. To be clear, this guide does not replace College policies or Library guidelines, nor does it tell you how to do aspects of your job. Please read the following College policies which relate to copyright.

Reproduction and Use of Copyrighted Materials
The Salt Lake Community College policy on using copyrighted materials. Date of last executive cabinet review: 29 October 2019.
Copyright Ownership and Intellectual Property
The Salt Lake Community College policy on ownership of works created by College faculty, staff, and students. Date of last executive cabinet review: 20 February 2024.

How to use this guide.

Learn more about the basics of copyright law, get background information, and find useful copyright tools on the Home page. Then use the tabs to find out how copyright interacts with specific departments' or positions' work.

SLCC Library Services & Copyright

SLCC Library Services empowers the College community’s responsible use copyrighted materials. The Library provides training and resources to help faculty, staff, and students understand copyright law. The Library encourages leveraging the Fair Use doctrine to use copyrighted materials. The Library offers support for the application of copyright policies to instructional activities, scholarly communications, and library functions.

Disclaimer:

Library Services does not provide legal advice. Any information provided by the Library should not be construed as legal advice. For any legal questions, contact the SLCC Legal Counsel’s Office.

Library Services Copyright Resources
Use the Copyright Resources guide to learn more about copyright and guidance for determining how to best comply with current copyright laws and regulations.

Not Giving Legal Advice

When discussing copyright with a student, staff, or faculty member, always preface your comments by letting them know that you cannot and are not providing legal advice. Providing legal advice is illegal (unauthorized practice of law). If you are using written communication for the discussion, this could be as simple as stating, "Please note that I am not a lawyer, and I cannot give legal advice."

Resources to Learn about Copyright

What is Copyright?
The U.S. Copyright Office's online reference page covering the basics of copyright.
Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17)
This publication contains the text of the United States Code pertaining to copyright, the Copyright Act of 1976, and subsequent amendments and related decisions.
Copyright Crash Course
University of Texas Libraries "crash course" provides overviews on copyright law as it applies to faculty in higher education. It includes content on Fair Use, the TEACH Act, seeking permissions, and more. Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.
Copyright 101
Cornell University Library's guide includes an overview of the law as well as information on the public domain, using copyrighted materials, and more. Licensed CC BY 4.0.

Additionally, the U.S. Copyright Office has created a "Learning Engine Video Series" to help familiarize you with some of the basic concepts of copyright. Video topics include:

Copyright on the Internet
Fair Use
What Is the Public Domain?
Debunking Common Copyright Myths
Copyright and Educational Uses

Learning Engine Video Series on Copyright
The U.S. Copyright Office's video series to help those new to the topic learn more.

Copyright Tools from the American Library Association

The American Library Association has a handful of digital, interactive tools that can be helpful for understanding certain elements of and exceptions to copyright. All of the tools are openly licensed. Use these tools to expand your own understanding of copyright, make copyright decisions, or share with others in the College community.

Exceptions for Instructors eTool
This tools helps explain education exceptions in U.S. copyright law for various instruction modalities. Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.
Fair Use Evaluator
This tool walks you through the four factors of Fair Use, guiding your analysis. It provides you with a time-stamped PDF, which can be saved as documentation of the decision. Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Public Domain Slider
Use this tool to help determine the copyright status of a work that is first published in the U.S. Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Section 108 Spinner
This tool can help libraries determine if reproducing a work is allowed under Section 108, which allows for reproduction by libraries and archives. Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.