UWT Library Copyright Policy for Course Reserves
The purpose of library reserves is to facilitate student access to educational materials for university classes. These materials may include digital reproductions of copyrighted material made available as electronic reserves via ERes. Like photocopies or other physical reproductions of copyrighted material, digital reproductions are subject to United States Copyright Law.
The University of Washington’s policy on copyright is that it is the responsibility of the instructor, not library staff, to ensure that materials submitted for electronic reserve comply with the fair use provisions.
Instructor Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the instructor to comply with copyright law when making materials available to students. To expedite workflow, the instructor should evaluate each copyrighted document or media file for copyright compliance before submitting materials for electronic reserve. Library reserves staff are available for consultation about copyright and other electronic reserves issues such as quality specifications for photocopies and how to submit materials.
Materials licensed by the UW
Most UW-licensed online journals can be used as e-reserves because the UW has already paid the necessary fees to make them available online to UW students, faculty and staff.
Fair use of materials not licensed by the UW
The United States Copyright Act of 1976 allows the use of multiple copies of a copyrighted work to be made for classroom use. Without this fair use provision, services like electronic reserve would infringe on copyright law. Thus it is important that non-licensed materials made available as electronic reserves comply with the fair use provisions. Instructors can find information on fair use at the UW Libraries web page Copyright and Reserves.
Other options
If the instructor decides that copyright or other considerations make a document inappropriate for electronic reserve use, there are other options for making materials available to students:
- Copies of the source book can be made available at the UW Bookstore for students to buy. Having students purchase the material is a good option if large portions of a copyrighted work are to be used for the course, since the fair use provisions of copyright law generally only allow smaller portions to be used. Contact the UWT Bookstore for more information on requesting textbooks.
- Reserves staff can put the source book on reserve at the circulation desk if a copy is available. You can request UW books for reserve using the online Course Reserves Request Form or UW media materials by using the Schedule a Video form. Putting a book on reserve works best for optional readings, small classes, or when the selections are fairly short. It does not work as well with larger classes, when numerous students may be competing for one book during a short period of time.
- Copyrighted materials may be put together in a course pack. This is not a library service, but is handled by the UWT Copy Center. The Copy Center will find out what copyright fees need to be paid and include this in the cost. Course packs work best for long readings, a large number of readings, or repeated use of non-licensed, copyrighted materials. They also provide students with a convenient, bound copy of the course materials. More information is available at the UW Libraries FAQ web page for Reserves, E-reserves, and Course Packs.
- Instructors can work with the Copyright Clearance Center, an intermediary between copyright holders and content users, or contact the copyright owner directly for permission to place material on electronic reserve. This may be less expensive than course pack royalties in many cases.
Reserves staff will work with instructors to find the best way to make resources available for a course.
Library Responsibilities
Consistent with the library’s role in making educational resources available to students, library reserves staff can provide some information to instructors about their options for providing course materials. However, library staff are not copyright authorities and are not responsible for copyright compliance.
Copyright issues addressed by library staff include:
- Limiting availability of electronic reserves to UW students, staff, and faculty by requiring a UW NetID to access e-reserves
- Requiring users to acknowledge copyright notifications before electronic reserves can be viewed online
- Terminating access to e-reserve materials when the course ends
As a courtesy to instructors, reserves staff try to let the submitter know when materials provided for reserve look like they may exceed the provisions for fair use. However, the library does not enforce copyright law and does not require proof of copyright compliance before making materials available online. Reserves staff will proceed as the instructor sees fit after discussing any questionable copyright issues.
