The Law of Libraries and Archives

by Bryan M. Carson

Overview

The law should be accessible to every professional, which is the philosophy behind The Law of Libraries and Archives. In this invaluable book, legal concepts are explained in plain English so that librarians and archivists will be able to understand the principles that affect them on a daily basis. This book provides its readers with answers and raises issues for them to think about. In addition to providing a basic overview of the law, this work contains enough details to allow readers to make informed choices and to converse intelligently with legal counsel.

Some of the issues included in the book include contracts, copyright and patent law, fair use, copyright exceptions for libraries, and the TEACH Act. The book contains chapters discussing trademark law, licensing of databases, information malpractice, and professionalism, as well as privacy issues, the PATRIOT Act, employment law, and the basics of starting a non-profit organization.

Visit the author's website for a number of important documents and resources related to library law.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810851894
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/07/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	5.84(w) x 8.83(h) x 1.42(d)

About the Author

Bryan M. Carson is an associate professor and Coordinator of Reference and Instructional Services at Western Kentucky University and is a member of the bar in Ohio and Kentucky. He has published extensively on law as applied to libraries, and since 1999 has edited a very popular column, "Legally Speaking," in Against the Grain.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 1. Libraries and the U.S. Legal System Chapter 3 2. Contracts: A Meeting of the Minds Chapter 4 3. Copyright and Patent Law Chapter 5 4. Fair Use and Intellectual Property Rights: The Basics of Using Information Legally Chapter 6 5. Copyright and Education Chapter 7 6. Trademark and Trade Secret Law Chapter 8 7. Licensing of Intellectual Property Chapter 9 8. Information Malpractice, Professionalism, and the Unauthorized Practice of Law and Medicine Chapter 10 9. Search Warrants, Investigations, Library Records, and Privacy Chapter 11 10. Internet Use Policies and the Filtering Debate Chapter 12 11. Employment and Workplace Law Chapter 13 12. Forming a Nonprofit Organization Part 14 Notes Part 15 Index Part 16 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Carson is well qualified to write this book. He is educated as a librarian and as a lawyer....He demonstrates throughout the book a superb understanding that his readers are in need of legal information, but are not likely to have much or any formal training in the law.

Kenneth D. Crews

...a readable, enlightening addition to a librarian's professional development bookshelf....

Legal Information Alert

A good reference on law...Carson is clear and concise in his analysis....Obviously, this is a valuable book and website for archivists and librarians managing programs and holdings in our litigious age.

Records and Information Management Report

This is a work that every librarian and archivist should read; every library and archive should add it to the reference collection. Essential.

Choice Reviews

This book should be required reading for anyone who works with copyright, intellectual access, patent law, fair use, or contracts. It is a simple (as simple as one can get regarding these laws), easy-to-use reference book, written for laymen, dealing with the complexities and intricacies of many laws related to libraries and archives. The author is well-known to librarians, having published the column 'Legally Speaking' in Against the Grain since 1999. Almost everything and anything dealing with libraries and the law is detailed here.

Public Services Quarterly

Comprehensive, easy to understand, and up-to-date, this title is recommended....

Catholic Library World

...a readable, enlightening addition to a librarian's professional development bookshelf....

March 2007 Legal Information Alert

This is a work that every librarian and archivist should read; every library and archive should add it to the reference collection. Essential.

Choice

Carson is well qualified to write this book. He is educated as a librarian and as a lawyer....He demonstrates throughout the book a superb understanding that his readers are in need of legal information, but are not likely to have much or any formal training in the law.--Kenneth D. Crews, Columbia University

...a readable, enlightening addition to a librarian's professional development bookshelf....--Legal Information Alert, March 2007

Comprehensive, easy to understand, and up-to-date, this title is recommended....--Catholic Library World, Vol. 78, No. 1, September 2007

From the Publisher

This is a work that every librarian and archivist should read; every library and archive should add it to the reference collection. Essential.

CHOICE