[ILL-L] Textbooks - Policy Statements

[Campbell, Heather]

There's always the ever vague: This may be in violation of the copyright
law.  I don't think it is, though.

 

I realize as a public library we're oranges to your apples- but we just
have a list of formats and types of materials that we don't request in
our policy.  When challenged, I say that these are items we don't loan,
so we can't borrow them.  When the wind's in the right direction and the
stars are in alignment, the customer will say- "Oh, I guess that makes
sense." in a non-sarcastic and sincere tone of voice.  And in the case
of textbooks, I'm not just whistling down south in Dixie.  Our
collection development policy prohibits the purchase of textbooks, so
since we don't have them, we aren't lending them.  

 

When all else fails, I say that I'm following the policy approved by the
Library Board. That usually goes over like a lead balloon.  And, of
course, everyone wants me to make an exception in their case. Usually
people get upset more over our not borrowing AV for them or not
borrowing books that haven't been published yet. <sigh>

 

 

Heather Campbell

Manager- Special Services (Interlibrary Loan and Books by Mail)

Jacksonville Public Library (JPL)

303 North Laura Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202-3505 heatherc at coj.net  (904) 630-2986

 

________________________________

From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Document Delivery
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 2:15 PM
To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
Subject: RE: [ILL-L] Textbooks - Policy Statements

 

I don't think lending can be in violation of copyright law, but it does
sound good,

 

Edward Helmrich 
ILL Office 
Ryan Library 
Iona College VXI 
914-633-2352 
docdelivery at iona.edu 

 

From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Miller, Jennifer
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 12:46 PM
To: ill-l at webjunction.org
Subject: [ILL-L] Textbooks - Policy Statements

 

I know the issue of textbooks has come up before, but I have a specific
question that I can't find in previous discussions. After a bad
experience last semester, I want to amend our policy from "we'll request
anything" to "we won't request your required textbooks." I have reviewed
many policy statements of libraries which do not request textbooks;
these range from basically 'forget it' to lengthy justifications citing
the difficulty in obtaining, too-short lending periods, etc. I also
found just a few which state specifically that such requests are a
*violation of the Fair Use clause of the US copyright law*. I like the
authority of this, as it would allow us to say that it's not us just
being mean - it's The Law.  But is this true?  I would greatly
appreciate any insight on this! 

Jennifer G. Miller - Reference/Interlibrary Loan Librarian
Middlesex County College Library/2600 Woodbridge Avenue/Edison, New
Jersey 08818










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