Intellectual Property and Information Rights for Librarians

Librarians face many challenges in explaining and managing intellectual property rights. Schlipp’s (intellectual property librarian and professor, Northern Kentucky Univ.) useful textbook will help academic, school, special, and public librarians develop appropriate policies and practices. Each chapter opens with objectives and closes with a conclusion and notes. Schlipp clearly discusses various types of intellectual property along with relevant legal and ethical issues. Librarians, he says, must assist users in not only finding information but also responsibly using that material. Part I covers copyright and fair use, as well as patents and trademarks. The author suggests valuable searching tips and lists resources for conducting complicated searches. Part I ends with an examination of the legal and ethical applications of information policies. Part II offers specific information divided by library type, Part II is divided into chapters by library type including: academic, public, school, and special (both nonprofit and corporate.) Schlipp also examines issues related to 3-D printers and digitization projects for public libraries.