LIBR 281-11
Seminar in Contemporary Issues (Focus on Digital Copyright)
Summer 2006 Greensheet
Mary Minow
E-mail
Phone: 408-366-0123
Fax: 408-366-0123
Office Hours: Anytime - online
| Course Links Greensheet Course Calendar |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Required Text and Readings | Course Requirements
Students must self-enroll on Blackboard. You will be required to use a password access code, which I will provide on the MySJSU Messaging system.
Course Description
This course examines digital copyright and gives students a legal and policy framework to evaluate the myriad of copyright scenarios librarians face today. Copyright issues permeate the library's digital environment, from virtual reference to full-text book scanning projects to library Web site design. In order to participate in the active debate about fair use, digital rights management systems, database legislation and the like, librarians need to be well versed in both the newest interpretations and the basics of copyright law.
Prerequisites: LIBR 200, LIBR 202, and LIBR 204
Student Learning Objectives
- understand a legal framework for copyright that can be applied to multiple digital copyright situations in libraries
- understand the relationships of the sources of copyright law: U.S. Constitution, court decisions, legislation, regulations
- be able to analyze emerging technology copyright issues affecting libraries and articulate library and content owner arguments for new interpretations and iterations of the law
- be able to identify reputable current sources on digital copyright issues
This course supports the following core competencies expected of each graduate:
- articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
- compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
- demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations;
- contribute to the cultural, economic, educational and social well-being of our communities.
Textbooks
Required Text
Kenneth D. Crews, Copyright Law for Librarians and Educators: Creative Strategies and Practical Solutions (ALA, 2d ed. 2006)
Additional Materials
17 U.S.C. §101 et seq. United States Copyright Law. Selected sections are in the appendix of Crews text. The full text of the law is available at the U.S. Copyright Office Web site at http://www.copyright.gov
Course Requirements
Technology Requirements
This class makes use of a variety of technologies, and you should not take the class if you do not have high speed access and a fast computer.
Assignments
The assignments for this course are:
| WEEK | Assignment | Points |
| 1 | Patent, Copyright, Trademark, Trade Secret multiple choice |
5 |
| 2 | Apply for copyright registration using Copyright Office form |
5 |
| 3 | Choose item published between 1923 and 1963 Evaluate its copyright status | 5 |
| 4 | Put a creative commons license on something you've created |
5 |
| 5 | Use Fair Use Checklist to evaluate five items/uses. Write a paragraph summary about your findings for each item. |
5 |
| 6 | Summary or commentary on Section 108 Study Group | 5 |
| 8 | Post on the discussion board an example of digital rights management - preferably an example that you've come into personal contact with, and that has not already been posted to the discussion board. The race to post quickly is on! |
5 |
| 9 | Use the model permission letter to request permission from a copyright holder to use his or her material (e-mail permission requests are acceptable). If the letter doesn't apply to your specific needs, revise it to meet your needs (instructor available for help). Post the response you get to the discussion board. |
5 |
| 10 | Library Copyright Policy Evaluation Choose two libraries and compare their copyright policies. You will be given a template to aid you in this task. Use Gretchen Hoffman’s article as a guide |
10 |
| Due 14 August |
Final paper or project Suggested current topics will be distributed during the class. Students may choose one of these topics or one of their own, with instructor approval. Final papers should be 10 to 15 pages. Alternative projects (such as wikis, multimedia presentations, etc.) are possible with instructor approval. |
25 |
| Class Participation There will be opportunities to discuss issues on class discussion lists. Thoughtful entries are valued more highly than sheer length or frequency of participation. |
15 |
Quizzes
There will be two quizzes for this course:
| WEEK | Quiz | Points |
| 6 | Preservation, Interlibrary Loan and other Mysteries of Sect. 108 |
5 |
| 7 | Review of course weeks 1-6 | 5 |
Grading
The assignments will contribute to you final grade as follows:
| Eight Assignments | 30 % |
| Copyright Policy Comparison/Evaluation | 20 % |
| Quizzes | 10 % |
| Class Participation | 15 % |
| Final Paper or Project | 25 % |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 97-100 | A |
| 94-96 | A- |
| 91-93 | B+ |
| 88-90 | B |
| 85-87 | B- |
| 82-84 | C+ |
| 79-81 | C |
| 76-78 | C- |
| 73-75 | D+ |
Penalty for Late Work
Assignments turned in late (unless excused) are subject to a 5% point penalty per day late.
Academic Integrity statement
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at
San José State University and the University's Academic Integrity
Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work.
Faculty are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf
Academic Honesty
Faculty will make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct in their courses. They will secure examinations and their answers so that students cannot have prior access to them and proctor examinations to prevent students from copying or exchanging information. They will be on the alert for plagiarism. Faculty will provide additional information, ideally on the green sheet, about other unacceptable procedures in class work and examinations. Students who are caught cheating will be reported to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University, as prescribed by Academic Senate Policy S04-12.
Other Academic Expectations
Please note the following
- You are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, withdrawal, etc. found at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf
- Expectations about classroom behavior; see Academic Senate Policy S90-5 on Student Rights and Responsibilities.
- As appropriate to your particular class, a definition of plagiarism, such as that found on Judicial Affairs Web site at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/plagarismpolicies.htm
- If you would like to include in your paper any material you have submitted, or plan to submit, for another class, please note that SJSU's Academic Integrity policy S04-12 requires approval by instructors.
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) to establish record of their disability.
No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/
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Phone: 408-924-2490
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