How Can the Library Help?

Auburn University Libraries can help answer questions about copyright.  If you are unsure about how to proceed with your specific situation, contact the library or your subject specialist librarian.  They will be glad to help find an answer to your question.

You can email the reference desk about copyright questions here or go to their web page for additional methods of contact.  They will be glad to help you out.

Auburn University Libraries have a budget for purchasing materials requested by instructors.  Instructors can request that their subject specialist librarian purchase supplementary texts for their courses.  This does not apply to required textbooks.  These texts will become part of the library’s online collection.  This would allow these texts to be used by students in class.  In recent years the library has made an effort to prioritize the purchase of eBooks that can be used by students both on and off campus.  Just let your subject specialist librarian know that a whole class will be using the book so they can get a book with an unlimited license. 

Content Resources

Images

• Google Advanced Search:  Before searching, change the usage rights to free to use or share.
• Flickr: The Commons: A searchable database of images with "no known copyright restrictions".  Also searchable by "commercial use allowed" and "modifications allowed".

Multiple Formats

• 30+ Places to Find Creative Commons Media: A listing of sites that allow you to access Creative Commons media by format (audio, images, text, video, etc).
• 25+ Sources for Creative Commons Content: Another listing of sites that allow you to access Creative Commons media by format.
• The Creative Commons Search Tool: Links to multiple search engines that allow you to find creative Commons media.
• MERLOT: a curated collection of free and open online teaching, learning, and faculty development services contributed and used by an international education community.

Copyright Resources

Copyright Basics

• Copyright Law: The full text of the US copyright laws from the US Copyright Office.
• Copyright Advisory Network: This site from the American Library Association contains additional explanation of copyright policies and several tools to help you make appropriate copyright decisions.
• Copyright Services: This site from University of Minnesota contains additional information about copyright and how to make appropriate copyright decisions.

Public Domain

• Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States: Details on how long copyright protection lasts on different types of works.
• Copyright Duration: A flyer from the US Copyright Office which explains how long copyright lasts in different situations.

Fair Use

• Fair Use Checklist: Auburn University's form to help make a fair use decision.
• Fair Use Evaluator: An interactive tool to help make a fair use decision.
• Fair Use Checklist: from Wayne State University helps you determine if your use of materials is fair use.

Online and Distance Learning (TEACH Act)

• TEACH Act: The American Library Association clarifies the details of the TEACH Act.
• The TEACH Act Toolkit: Details on the TEACH Act from the University of Texas.
• Guide to the TEACH Act: Explanation of the details of the TEACH Act from the University System of Georgia.
• Roles, Rules, and Responsibilities: A brief guide to the TEACH Act from the Copyright Clearance Center.

Permission

• Permission request form letter: Download this letter to request a copyright holder's permission to use their work.
• The Basics of Getting Permission: Specifics of asking for permission from Stanford University.
• Copyright and Permissions: Specifics of asking permission from Wiley.

Creative Commons

• Creative Commons FAQs: Details about Creative Commons licenses.

Making Copyright Use Decisions

• Copyright Decision Tree: Helps you make decisions about using copyrighted materials.
• A Map of Use Issues: A tool from the University of Minnesota that helps you decide if you can use copyrighted materials.
• Using Materials in the Classroom: An interactive tool from the University of North Carolina: Greensboro that helps you decide if you can use copyrighted materials.

Creating Copyrighted Works

• Boilerplate Statements- Copy and paste statements to place on syllabi, presentations, etc.