Licensing Digital Content: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Writing in plain language from the librarian's perspective, Harris, a copyright, licensing, and digital property lawyer, explains basic and more advanced concepts of digital licensing for librarians and other consumers of licensed digital content. The book discusses the questions and issues that arise when interpreting, negotiating, and entering into digital licenses, such as the legal rights and obligations in license agreements, the role of librarians in regard to license agreements, global aspects of digital licensing, and negotiating the best license to meet specific needs. One chapter is devoted to FAQs, based on questions the author has been asked at seminars and on her blogs. Appendices provide excerpts from the US Copyright Acts on Fair Use and Interlibrary Loan, and a digital licensing checklist. A glossary is also included. The book is intended for libraries of all types and sizes, including public, school, government, college and university, and special libraries. It will also be useful to publishers, vendors, aggregators, and any content owners who license their content to libraries. Other users of electronic databases and periodicals, such as museums and schools, will also find the book helpful when they are licensing digital resources for use in their institutions. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)