Reference Point

Reserves in a New library service for faculty ensures fair use of electronic materials In an increasingly electronic learning environment, CMU and its faculty and students are benefiting from the CMU Libraries staying ahead of the fair use and copyright curve. The Libraries' recently established Course Reserves and Copyright Services office is helping faculty members secure the needed copyright permissions that will provide students access to the best resources available electronically. "All the faculty members have to do is say what they want, and we get it," says Timothy Peters, director of Off-Campus Library Services. "This benefits the students by making more robust materials available to them. We've talked to the libraries at seven or eight other institutions about copyright and fair use, and CMU is definitely ahead of the curve. " While the Libraries historically have offered this service for faculty teaching off-campus courses, the new service was developed to further assist on-campus faculty. In addition, the university has provided the Libraries with funding to cover charges associated with using copyrighted material. digital age Peters says copyright and fair use have risen to the forefront of higher learning as more electronic material is needed to accommodate the rapid increase in online classes and Blackboard-based course reserves. Contributing to these concerns is a pending copyright infringement lawsuit. Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press and Sage Publications filed a complaint in 2008 that Georgia State University was engaged in "systematic, widespread and unauthorized copying and distribution" of copyrighted materials. "We are working to educate our faculty about copyright and about the resources we have available to help them here, Nationally known copyright expert Lolly Gasaway, a law professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, shares with CMU faculty and staff her insights into using copyrighted materials in the classroom during a special workshop March 26 in Park Library Auditorium. says, explaining the Libraries also launched a website to offer information regarding copyrighted materials and their use within the educational setting. "Copyright is the law, and this is why we're trying to do the right thing and provide convenience to faculty at the same time. " • " Peters Carefree copyright compliance Ted Clayton has received the Libraries' assistance with electronic materials for his classes. The political science professor uses an out-of-print translation of Sophocles' play "Antigone" and, through the Libraries' Course Reserves and Copyright Services office, Clayton can put the play on electronic reserve for his students. "It allows me to keep using the classroom materials I want to use, care of the details means that I don't have to become an expert on copyright law, and it saves me a lot of work. Clayton says. "The fact that the library takes " Marsha Simpson and Laurie Bellinger work in the Course Reserves and Copyright Services office and help faculty members throughout the process. They take care of everything, from finding books and article links to securing copyright permission and posting the article in Blackboard. "They don't need to worry about anything. We do all the footwork for them," Bellinger says. • " Material world Follow these links to learn more about how faculty and students benefit from the copyright and reserve material resources available through CMU Libraries. Course Reserves and Copyright Services office library.cmich.edu/departments/reserves Copyright and fair use website copyright.cmich.edu 3

• Cover