Libraries and Copyright
Copyright law affects libraries in a variety of ways as they acquire new materials, preserve collections, and make resources available for research and study. Library activities are governed largely by two areas of copyright law: "fair use" and Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Act, which allows eligible libraries and archives to reproduce and distribute certain materials for specified purposes. The library’s particular activity will determine which area of law is applicable.
This section of the website provides an overview of some important copyright issues for libraries and provides tools to aid librarians and library patrons in insuring compliance with copyright law.
Preservation or replacement of library collections
Copyright notices for private study
Copyright notices for unsupervised copying machines
Interlibrary loans and copyright