Week 1 Posting

Recently at work we have had many issues dealing with intellectual freedom and copyright. I work for a small career college with a fairly small library budget. We don't have the funds or resources to purchase licensing and rights for every video and article faculty wants to incorporate into their classes. Time and time again I have instructed our faculty on the copyright laws and fair use doctrine, but their focus is on getting information to the students and that is that. They feel that my limiting them with rules and regulations is imposing on their intellectual freedom to materials for class! 

Library staff have given them plenty of materials on these topics, have postings on all copy machines and I have individually spoken wit several faculty members. Many seem to understand and care, but when it comes time to get the information ready for their class they are going to do whatever they see fit. While I can understand their frustrations with these issues laws and regulations are in place for reasons. Copyright is to protect the creator of the work....not simply to give faculty a hard time! 

When it comes down to it I know that I will continue to enforce the rules and regulations to the best of my ability. While I am obviously not hired to be 'copyright police' I feel it is my job to continue to educate faculty and students on copyright and intellectual freedom.