LIBR 281-02
LIBR 281-11
Seminar in Contemporary Issues
Topic: Digital Copyright
Fall 2007 Greensheet
Mary Minow
E-mail
Phone: 408-366-0123
Fax: 408-366-0123
Office Hours: Anytime - online
| Course Links Greensheet Schedule |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
Textbooks | Course Requirements
Students self-enroll by using Blackboard. Registration for this course should be available by August 16, 2007. See Other Academic Expectations for more on registration.
Course Description
This course examines digital copyright and gives students a legal and policy framework to evaluate the myriad of copyright scenarios facing libraries today. Copyright issues permeate the library's digital environment, from Web site design to book scanning projects to digital reference. To participate in the active debate about fair use, digital rights management systems, orphan works and the like, librarians need to be well versed in both the newest interpretations and the basics of copyright law.
Prerequisites: LIBR 200, LIBR 202, and LIBR 204
Course Objectives
Student Learning Objectives
- understand a legal framework for copyright that can be applied to multiple digital copyright situations in libraries
- understand the relationships of the sources of copyright law: U.S. Constitution, court decisions, legislation, regulations
- be able to analyze emerging technology copyright issues affecting libraries and articulate library and content owner arguments for new interpretations and iterations of the law
- be able to identify reputable current sources on digital copyright issues
This section of LIBR 281 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
- compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
- demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations;
- contribute to the cultural, economic, educational and social well-being of our communities.
Textbooks and Readings
Required Text
- Kenneth D. Crews, Copyright Law for Librarians and Educators: Creative Strategies and Practical Solutions (2d ed. 2006).
Available through the SLIS eBookstore.
Additional Materials
- 17 U.S.C. §101 et seq. (2007). United States Copyright Law. Selected sections are in the appendix of Crews text. The full text of the law is available at the U.S. Copyright Office web site at http://www.copyright.gov
- Edward Samuels, The Illustrated Story of Copyright (2000). Available in hardcopy at http://www.edwardsamuels.com/copyright/buy.htm or online in its entirety at http://www.edwardsamuels.com/illustratedstory/index.htm
Course Requirements
Technology Requirements
This class makes use of a variety of technologies, and you must have high speed access and a fast computer in order to take the class.
Assignments
All assignments, quizzes, papers listed are required. The assignments will contribute to your final grade as follows:
| Assignments and quizzes (10 total) | 80 % |
| Final Paper or Project | 20 % |
| Total | 100% |
Class Participation
This class is entirely online. Class participation is expected primarily through the discussion board. Although the discussion is not graded, the quality and quantity of participation will be considered for students who are on the borderline at the time of final grading.
Grading Policy
Everyone starts the class with a grade of "B", the standard grade for graduate level work. If you do the assignments as outlined on the assignment sheets and explained in class, you will maintain that "B". If you submit sub-standard work, you will receive a sub-standard grade (B- or below). If, on the other hand, you submit above-standard work, you will receive an above-standard grade (B+ or better). Above-standard work is defined as work that clearly displays one or more of the following criteria:
- originality in the approach to the assignment;
- greater depth of analysis than the written assignment calls for;
- overall treatment of the assignment above and beyond what the written assignment calls for; or
- superior organizational and/or written skills in the presentation of the material.
Remember that a "B" is not a bad grade. It shows you have satisfactorily demonstrated potential for professional achievement in this area.
Furthermore, you are in a graduate level, professional school program, and all work submitted will be of graduate standard. This means:
- assignments submitted after the due date will be penalized – it is your responsibility to be aware of the due dates for all assignments;
- all pages will be consecutively numbered in each assignment;
- spelling and grammatical errors will reduce the grade; and
- all work cited should be in a complete, consistent citation format. Blue book citation (http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/ ) is preferred, but any standard citation format is acceptable.
Failure to comply with items above will be considered less than standard graduate level performance and will result in less than a standard graduate level grade.
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 97-100 | A |
| 94-96 | A- |
| 91-93 | B+ |
| 88-90 | B |
| 85-87 | B- |
| 82-84 | C+ |
| 79-81 | C |
| 76-78 | C- |
| 73-75 | D+ |
| 70-72 | D |
| 67-69 | D- |
| Below 67 | F |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
- A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
Penalty for Late Work
Assignments turned in late (unless excused) are subject to a 5% point penalty per day late.
Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/S07-2.htm.
Academic Honesty
Faculty will make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct in their courses. They will secure examinations and their answers so that students cannot have prior access to them and proctor examinations to prevent students from copying or exchanging information. They will be on the alert for plagiarism. Faculty will provide additional information, ideally on the green sheet, about other unacceptable procedures in class work and examinations. Students who are caught cheating will be reported to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University, as prescribed by Academic Senate Policy S07-2.
Other Academic Expectations
Please note the following:
- You are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, withdrawal, etc. found at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/S07-2.htm. The instructor does not register students, establish waiting lists or add students to classes. Once a class is full, students cannot enroll unless someone drops the class. Students should check http://my.sjsu.edu for open classes.
- Expectations about classroom behavior; see Academic Senate Policy S90-5 on Student Rights and Responsibilities.
- Plagiarism is defined by the university at the Judicial Affairs Web site at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/plagarismpolicies.htm.
- If you would like to include in your paper any material you have submitted, or plan to submit, for another class, please note that SJSU's Academic Integrity policy F06-1 requires approval by instructors.
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) to establish record of their disability.
No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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