Copyright, open access and library instruction

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a general review of the concepts of copyright and open access as they relate to library instruction. The authors provide instructional advice to librarians on these topics. Design/methodology/approach – The authors approach the topic from a descriptive and instructional stance. General research on the topics listed above was conducted and is presented as an overview. Findings – The authors discuss the basics of copyright law, Creative Commons licenses, open access resources and copyright considerations specific to using music in instruction. Originality/value – This article includes useful tips and resources for instructional librarians, such as where to find open access or Creative Commons content. It is of value to any librarian that utilizes other entities’ content in the course of instruction.