Copyright Policy

It is the policy of the North Mor Elementary School Library Media Center to adhere to existing copyright laws and maintain ethical standards in the use of copyrighted materials for instructional purposes.

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.  Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians, published by the U. S. Copyright Office, is a 24-page document that can be viewed or downloaded here.

The North Mor Elementary School LMC supports the laws as defined by the U.S. courts, and follows the Superintendent Policy on Copyright that explains the district's intent to adhere to the provisions of copyright laws in all areas.

Fair Use and Teachers

What is fair use?  Fair use limits the exclusive rights of copyright holders, making it possible for individuals to reproduce copyrighted materials without permission under certain circumstances. 

Libraries have an ethical, as well as a legal, obligation to practice fair use.  In general, the guidelines for fair use are as follows:

The guidelines for copying articles and parts of larger works (such as a chapter in a book) state that they must be intended for private use, such as scholarship or research, and not for profit.  This guideline applies to both patrons and library staff.

The law also permits libraries to reproduce one copy of a work to replace missing or damaged materials if a replacement cannot be purchased at a reasonable price.  In addition, libraries may copy items for their patrons.  Only one copy of an item may be made, and the patron is not free to make additional copies from it.  Therefore, a copyright notice must appear on the copy (for example): Notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Fair use guidelines are different for the classroom.  Teachers may make single copies of articles or book chapters for their own research or classroom preparation.  In addition, teachers may make multiple copies for classroom use provided they comply with certain guidelines.  These guidelines include, but are not limited to, the following:

• No more than one copy per student.

• Each copy must contain the copyright notice.

• There are limits on the length of the item copied.

• There is not enough time to get copyright permission.

• The copies are NOT to be distributed repeatedly, year after year.

• The copies are NOT substitutes for purchasing books or periodicals.

More information on fair use, including the full text of these guidelines, is in Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians.