New workshop on fair use best practices and guidelines

For Immediate Release
Fri, 02/27/2015

Contact:

Liz Steiner

Marketing Manager

ALA Publishing

esteiner@ala.org

CHICAGO — ALA Editions announces a new workshop, Fair Use: Guidelines and Best Practices with attorney and librarian Gretchen McCord. This workshop will last 90 minutes and is hosted live at 2:30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

As musicians share remixes and mashups, and big media cast a net of takedown notices over piracy, misunderstandings on fair-use guidelines abound. At worst, a restrictive view of the guidelines can stifle creativity and research in your library’s community. Attorney and librarian Gretchen McCord will demonstrate productive interpretations of fair-use guidelines for libraries. You will learn how to empower your patrons with statements of best practices used independently and along with the fair-use guidelines.

Topics include:

  • The purpose and philosophy of fair-use guidelines and statements of practice
  • Thinking critically and constructively in your interpretations of the policy
  • How to use fair-use guidelines as a starting point, not a limitation
  • How guidelines and best practices fit in your institution's risk-management approach

About the Instructor:
Gretchen McCord is an attorney and librarian, focusing on intellectual property in digital formats.  Previously an academic librarian, she practiced law for nine years before starting her legal advising and training consultancy. She has taught as an adjunct at both university and community college levels in the areas of copyright, privacy, trademark and First Amendment law. A frequent speaker, she is the author of "Copyright in Cyberspace: Questions and Answers for Librarians, What You Need to Know About Privacy Law:  A Guide for Librarians and Educators, and Fair Use: The Secrets No One Tells You." She holds a J.D. from the University of Texas and an M.S.I.S. from the University of North Texas.

Registration for this ALA Editions Workshop is available on the ALA Store. You can purchase registration at both individual and group rates.

ALA Editions Workshops are designed to give you and your staff the opportunity to participate in a hands-on learning experience that will help you make the best technology decisions for your library.

ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5843 or editionscoursehelp@ala.org.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.