Get Copyright Right: A Collection of Copyright Corner Columns from SLA’s "Information Outlook." - Gasaway, Laura N. Special Libraries Association, 2006. 146p. $29.95 (SLA member price - $19.95), Paperback. ISBN-10: 0-87111555-7. 346.04 Copyright. Fair use (Copyright).

Laura Gasaway is a professor and attorney specializing in copyright and intellectual property law. For six years, she wrote “Copyright Corner” columns for the Special Library Association’s monthly publication, Information Outlook. In this book are 30 of those columns, selected by Gasaway and revised as necessary to reflect court rulings that brought changes since their original publication.

The articles, taken together, provide a short course in copyright for librarians. Gasaway defines and explains the important concepts of public domain, fair use, and first sale doctrine. She addresses various questions—some new to those who avoid thinking about copyright—such as whether and when translations, indexes, maps, computer software, digitized forms of published material, unpublished works, and other media are subject to copyright restrictions.

We learn under what conditions a librarian may make backup copies of audiovisual media, and of the hazards of distributing via e-mail reproduced copies of copyrighted articles and reports. Gasaway does note the differing considerations for librarians in non-profit organizations but reminds us that we, too, must be vigilant.

Gasaway is a strong advocate of developing an organizational copyright policy. As she points out, it is often the librarian who informs others in an organization of the need to comply with copyright law.

Monica Tenney
C&SL Media Review Editor
Maple Grove United Methodist Church
Columbus, Ohio