Copyright and the Library Collection

How can schools manage the copyright status of content being loaded into the learning
management system (LMS)?

Schools are permitted to create, store, communicate and use mulitple copies of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works for the purpose of education in the school setting (smartcopying, 2022, para. 1). They are covered for this use under the Statutory Text and Artistic Works Licence, which ensures that artists, writers, composers, etc. are paid for the educational use of their products. This copyright use is paid for by the Department of Education.

 

Under this licence, TLs are able to manage the resources in their library collection more effectively, as they are able to make, store, and communicate copies of resources for teacher and student educational use. However, this licence does not permit the copying of computer programs, audio and/or visual material, or text based resources for non-educational purposes. This has implications when one considers the storing of films as a resource in the collection, particularly given the temptation to “reward” students with a film viewing session otherwise unrelated to course content for good behaviour etc. Resources thus need to be managed in light of this copyright law, and the TL should work to ensure all staff and students accessing the collection are aware of this law. Materials added to the LMS should only be included if they are for educational purposes if the TL believes copyright could potentially be breached with the addition of the resource, and a note in the description about the parameters of the resource’s usage for educational purposes, to be reviewed on a regular basis, could help manage the content in the LMS.

 

Reference List

Smartcopying. (2022). Education Licences: The Statutory Text and Artistic Works Licence. Smartcopying. https://smartcopying.edu.au/guidelines/education-licences/the-statutory-text-and-artistic-works-licence/