Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for Digitization for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums
Copywriter on November 26, 2009 in Copyright Law
Product Description
The development of new digital technologies has led to fundamental changes in the ways that cultural institutions fulfill their public missions of access, preservation, research, and education. Many institutions are developing publicly-accessible websites in which users can visit online exhibitions, search collection databases, access images of collection items, and in some cases create their own digital content. Digitization, however, also raises the possibility of copyright infringement. It is imperative, therefore, that staff in libraries, archives, and museums have a good understanding of fundamental copyright principles and how institutional procedures can be affected by the law. Copyright and Cultural Institutions was written to assist understanding and compliance with copyright law. It discusses the basics of copyright law and the exclusive rights of the copyright owner, the major exemptions used by cultural heritage institutions, and stresses the importance of “risk assessment” when conducting any digitization project. Two cases studies (on digitizing oral histories and student work) are also included.
Just picked up my copy and I’m impressed by how Hirtle, Hudson, & Kenyon are able to pack such dense subject matter into a (so-far) pretty easy read. This book provides great guidance for a challenging issue related to beginning digitization projects. I recommend it for anyone who is new to developing digital collections as it offers helpful tables, case studies, and figures that will prove useful to making decisions about what content to digitize and much more.
Rating: 4 / 5