Library Information for Faculty

Print Sources

√ If the portion is insubstantial

√ If the copying is fair (see Fair Dealing Factors)

√ For exams and testing

X Workbooks

X Materials obtained through personal contracts or licenses

One chapter or 10% from a 250 page book is likely insubstantial copying.

One short story, poem, article is likely insubstantial copying.

You should not reproduce/distribute material with a “personal use only” contract or license.

Distribution can be either: 

• photocopies given out in class 
• copies available at the library reserve desk 
• a scanned file uploaded to Blackboard

 Online Sources

√ Publicly available material

X Password-protected content

X Material with a “clearly visible notice” prohibiting educational use

You can use publicly available material from the Internet as long as the content has been legitimately posted and the source and author/creator is cited.

There is no technological protection measure preventing you from accessing or copying the material.

 Images
 Tables
 & Figures

√ From library databases or print sources

√ From internet sites that do not have a “clearly visible notice” prohibiting educational use

Up to 10% of a work is insubstantial copying. It can be used in the classroom or in Blackboard.

There is no technological protection measure preventing you from accessing the material.

 Music

√ Playing of music in the classroom

X Uploading copyright protected music to Blackboard or burning copies for distribution

You can play a song in your classroom but you cannot upload it to Blackboard and you cannot burn copies to distribute.

There is no technological protection measure preventing you from accessing the material.

 Videos & TV

√ News programs

√ TV series, documentaries, films (as long as you have a legal copy)

√ Seneca Libraries’ thousands of DVDs and online educational videos

X Videos from personal user accounts (e.g., Netflix, iTunes) 

Faculty can show a television program or play a radio broadcast while it is being aired.

News programs or news commentaries can be taped and shown in class. You cannot tape TV series, documentaries, or films and show them in class without permission from the copyright holder.

Videos from personal collections can be shown as long as the copy is legal.

You cannot copy a work (e.g. burn a copy, convert to streaming) without permission from the copyright holder.

There is no technological protection measure preventing you from accessing the material.

 YouTube

√ Videos uploaded by the copyright owner

X Illegally uploaded videos

YouTube and other video sharing sites may contain content not uploaded by the copyright owner. It is good professional practice to check the legitimacy of a YouTube video before using it in the classroom.

Many content creators like the CBC have channels on YouTube. The videos found on these channels can be used.

 Mash-ups

√ Copyright protected works used in the creation of a new work

An individual can use copyrighted works such as images, videos, music, text, etc. in the creation of a new work (e.g. modifying a mathematical table, creating an instructional video, creating slides or documents) as long as the original works are cited.

The derivative work must be transformative.

The work must not be used for promotion or commercial purposes.