Discusses fair use guidelines based on the Copyright Act of 1976 and their applications to distance education issues. Topics include concerns of users and publishers, copyright permission that is needed for distance education and not for traditional instruction, multimedia fair use guidelines, and licensing systems. (LRW)

Section 108 of the Copyright Act of 1976, Title 17 of the United States Code, spells out conditions under which libraries may photocopy copyrighted works without infringing the rights of their owners. Section 108(i) directs the Register of Copyrights to prepare and file a report every 5 years setting forth the extent to which this section has…

Since public libraries contain copyrighted works in the form of print, electronic or audiovisual sources, librarians and library paraprofessionals need to possess sufficient knowledge of United States copyright law to meet the information needs of patrons successfully and legally. A literature review revealed that minimal works address this topic.…