How can libraries, museums, and archives update their policies to balance legal requirements with the needs of their users? Although such issues have always permeated the information environment, traditional responses are no longer enough. This in-depth treatment provides concrete background and guidelines for every library, museum, or archive, no matter what the size or mission. Issues related to the components of the collection, gifts, and donations (real property and tax implications), rights to privacy, users' rights of access, copyright and information control, and responsibility for safety in public spaces are covered in depth. A complete chapter is devoted to a discussion of the proper structure and elements of library, museum, or archives policy content-a superb blueprint for effective policy drafting at all levels of the institutional lifecycle. Finally, a resource list of ethical and legal materials in print and on the Web points the way to a wealth of highly specific and useful information. Timely and essential.

The Law of Libraries and Archives explains legal concepts in plain English so that librarians and archivists will be able to understand the principles that affect them on a daily basis. Issues in the book include contracts, copyright and patent law, fair use, the TEACH Act, trademark law, licensing of databases, information malpractice and professionalism, privacy issues and the PATRIOT Act, employment law, and the basics of starting a non-profit organization.

“Rare books and archives come alive when consulted by readers and researchers.” --from the Introduction In the administrative and budgetary environment of law librarianship, outstanding reference service is crucial to the survival and growth of special collections. Public Services Issues with Rare and Archival Law Materials offers practical suggestions for putting these valuable special collections to work. Each chapter gives clear, proven advice on making the most of rare book sections and archives to contribute to the mission of their libraries and parent institutions. Public Services Issues with Rare and Archival Law Materials provides a comprehensive overview of issues in using these special collections. It begins with an original study of the research habits of legal historians, which can help you plan a strategy for making your collection more accessible to scholars. It concludes with thoughtful consideration of the ethical issues of using archived papers, balancing the scholar’s need to understand the inner workings of the legal system against the need for private court deliberations and attorney-client privilege. This wide-ranging book provides the tools you need for keeping archives in active service, including: detailed instructions for the care and use of rare legal materials ideas for creating exhibits and outreach activities, including Web sites suggestions for working with early books on Roman and canon law practical techniques for using archives in litigation and cooperating with attorneys a bibliography of law-related archives and rare-book librarianship This essential book will assist rare book librarians and archivists to provide better reference service by providing examples of best practice and solutions to common problems. Public Services Issues with Rare and Archival Law Materials is an indispensable resource for law librarians, archivists, and scholars.

With coverage of all the issues of the day—filters, fair use, copyright, Web publishing and Internet use, software sharing, ADA compliance, free speech, privacy, access, and employment and liability issues—you will have a "librarian's J.D." in short order!

The advancement of innovative education, librarianship, and scholarship has become increasingly entangled with copyright law. Research and education seem to be routinely reinvented with the creation of new software and technological devices. Private agreements are becoming a dominant force on the shape of legal rights and responsibilities.

Surveys the laws that affect libraries and librarians.

Handouts and printouts of slides from talk given by OCG to Harvard Librarians.

"In this book, a comprehensive review of various legal issues concerning digital libraries is presented"--Provided by publisher.

While the digital revolution has touched every aspect of law librarianship, perhaps nowhere has the effect been more profound than in the area of collection development. Many of the materials law libraries traditionally collected in print form are now available in electronic format. Digital technology has affected the way we select, order, and process legal materials. The World Wide Web has created an explosion of both commercial and private online publishing. The cost of electronic publishing has caused many traditional law book publishers to sell their companies rather than invest in the needed technologies to compete in the 21st century. Small publishers and book jobbers have been forced to reinvent themselves. The amount of legal information available and its costs continue to soar. Law Library Collection Development in the Digital Age deals with these and other issues related to law library collection development. Chapters range from the theoretical to the practical. Inspired by Penny Hazleton’s seminal paper “How Much of Your Print Collection is Really on Lexis or Westlaw?” the editors and chapter authors of Law Library Collection Development in the Digital Age endeavor to expand on professor Hazleton’s work, with examinations of: the role of law libraries in strategic planning for distance learning Web mirror sites trust vs. antitrust issues access vs. ownership issues how law libraries deal with electronic court records, dockets, and filings the growth of e-journals as they relate to legal publishing how the Hein Greenslips and Blackwell North America’s Bookservice cover legal materials past, present, and future roles of specialized book jobbers and more! Anyone interested in law librarianship or the information industry will find this book informative and useful. Make it a part of your professional collection today.