Helpful Resources

Copyright Information

Hover over the title or subject you are interested in. These topics are are all hyperlinked. Please let the librarian know if any links are broken.

The information on this page was adapted from Betty Arai, Library Media Specialist.

What is Copyright

According to the U.S. Copyright Office, copyright is “a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression." Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.


What is Fair Use?

Fair use provisions of U.S. copyright law allow use of copyrighted materials on a limited basis for specific purposes without the permission of the copyright holder.

Videos in the Classroom

Classroom Use of Videos

Public performances of a video/DVD in the face-to-face classroom is an exception to the public performance right §110 (1) and therefore lawful. The following conditions apply:

  • The teaching activities are conducted by a non-profit education institution

  • The performance is in connection with face-to-face teaching activities.

  • The performance takes place in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction.

  • The person responsible for the performance has no reason to believe that the videotape was unlawfully made.


Freely Usable Images/Media

  • Creative Commons – Allows you to search for media files (images, music, video) that you can use, share or edit. *See disclaimer on home page.

  • Getty Images – Images that you may use online – e.g., websites, blogs, etc.

  • Advanced Google Image Search – Under usage rights, select “free to use or share”

  • Wikimedia – Huge collection of freely usable media files (images, sounds, videos)

  • Stockvault – Free images