RE: pdfs?

[Kelly Jacobsma <jacobsma@xxxxxxxx>]

This semester, we have brought up both electronic reserves and a course 
management system on campus.  I have done a fair amount of investigating of 
the topic and have come to the following conclusions:

1.  Each item to be placed on E-reserve or course management system should be 
evaluated individually to determine if it is a fair use.  The most helpful 
checklist I have found is one prepared by Kenneth D. Crews for the Copyright 
Management Center at Indiana University.  The website appears to be down at 
the moment but the checklist is also published in "Copyright Essentials for 
Librarians and Educators" by Crew. American Library Association. Chicago: 
2000.

2.  Another helpful site is the University of Georgia Office of Legal Affairs 
Copyright Policy. Http://www.usg.edu/admin/legal/copyright.
They have a whole list of scenarios including the one you describe.  
This is what they say:

Posting Copyrighted Article to Web Page

SCENARIO F: A professor has posted his class notes on a Web page available to 
the public. He wants to scan an article from a copyrighted journal and add it 
to his Web page.

QUESTION: Is this a fair use?

ANSWER: It depends. If access to his Web page is restricted, then this is a 
fair use. If access is not limited, then this use is probably not a fair use. 
No exclusively educational purpose can be guaranteed by putting the article on 
the Web, and such conduct would arguably violate the copyright holder's right 
of public distribution.


So our policy when we are putting things on E-reserves is to evaluate each 
item for fair use and make sure the course page is password protected.

Sincerely,



 >===== Original Message From Kathy.Bruner@xxxxxxxxxx =====
>I have a question that may have been answered here before, but forgive me as
>a newcomer for asking:
>I have always put single copies of supplemental readings on reserve at our
>campus library, and encouraged students to read the material there or make
>their own personal copy. I'm wondering--would the law allow me to make PDF
>files of those reserve articles and place those on a Blackboard server
>location, available only to students currently enrolled in my course
>(without author permission)? Any help?
>Kathy Bruner
>Asbury College
>Wilmore, KY
>
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Kelly Gordon Jacobsma
Associate Professor and Head of Public Services
Hope College Van Wylen Library
PO Box 9012
Holland, MI  49422-9012
Phone:(616) 395-7788
Email: jacobsma@xxxxxxxx