Getting Materials Cleared for Face-to-Face Teaching : The Library's Role

Please be advised that the library does not clear the use of materials for course packs. It is the responsibility of the instructor to contact the Bookstore for this type of service. Please telephone the Bookstore at 765-285-8080 for additional information. The clearance for the use of all other copyrighted intellectual property that falls outside of fair use can either be your responsibility on one hand, or on the other, you can make use of the service that the library provides. Please note that the library clears materials only for face-to-face teaching and not for commercial, research, private or other non-face-to-face teaching enterprises.

Copyrighted materials that fall outside of the "right" or privilege of fair use for face-to-face teaching does indeed require permission from the rights holder(s). The process of obtaining this permission can either take as little as several hours but it might also take up to several months [or longer] to obtain permission. Consequently, please plan ahead!

Sometimes the Answer is "No"
The University Copyright Center, Teresa Story and Fritz Dolak want our Ball State face-to-face instructors to have a positive experience in the use of copyrighted information that falls outside of fair use. To that end, the University Copyright Center personnel will assist you in locating the rights holder(s), negotiate with them and through that process determine a fair compensation to the rights holder for the use of their intellectual property. The library will reimburse fair compensation to the rights holder. But please realize that there are times when a rights holder demands a confiscatory amount that precludes our reimbursing them and as a consequence, your material(s) not being cleared for your use. You will be notified if this is the case.

Clearance Forms
We need, however, your assistance in this process. We require explicit information on the types of materials you will use as well as how that material will be used. This type of information is required in order for us to both validate the rights holder(s) and to negotiate fair compensation with them.

We Need Your Help!
Your assistance comes in by coming to the library lower level and filling out a Copyright Clearance Form. We need one form for each item that requires clearance. Please understand that there are times when proper clearance might also require your bringing in the material(s) that require clearance for use. When in doubt about filling out a form, always bring in the materials and will will assist you in this process.

The University Copyright Center, Teresa Story and Fritz Dolak, will assist you in answering any of your questions about the fair use of intellectual property in their various forms for face-to-face teaching and will assist you in obtaining permission for any use that falls outside of fair use for your face-to-face teaching needs.