Copyright in the information age

For centuries, librarians and other information professionals such as those who work in museums, archives, and other information centers have grappled with the legal and ethical considerations that affect the creation, organization, dissemination and use of information. Libraries and information centers typically house collections of copyrighted materials that may potentially pose legal consequences for libraries and library users. Whether the issue is monitoring the amount of photocopies made in a public library or the potential copyright infringement of providing articles for course reserves in a university library; librarians find themselves in the position of balancing the needs of the user with the rights of the creator. With the information explosion of the 21st century, copyright law presents even greater challenges for information professionals. The Internet and the digital revolution have changed the interpretation of copyright law in order to provide the greatest protection for creators' works. This chapter offers a discussion on copyright in this ever-changing age of information.