BU Libraries host copyright workshop encouraging collaboration
Kyle K. Courtney leads his Copyright First Responders Workshop hosted by BU Libraries.
The BU Libraries recently hosted an immersive two-day copyright workshop to provide university staff a stronger foundational understanding of copyright and to foster collaboration across departments. The Copyright First Responders Workshop, was taught by Kyle K. Courtney, a lawyer and librarian serving as the Copyright Advisor for Harvard University. He brought together librarians and members of the campus community to explore emerging issues in copyright law and discuss how they, as specialists and advisers at the university, can best support students, faculty, and researchers navigating the complexities of the law and related fields. When librarians and other university staff can offer timely copyright guidance, they both protect researchers’ work and empower students and faculty to properly use and engage with existing materials.
During the collaborative workshop, participants considered issues related to public domain, publishing agreements, licensing, fair use, and open access while sharing their expertise and experience handling copyright issues. This workshop not only provided participants with a stronger understanding of copyright, but it also built trust and connection across teams, encouraging cross-department problem solving and partnerships. Learning and collaboration continued beyond the workshop of trusted colleagues. BU participants are now connected with a community of peers as part of the the larger Copyright First Responders network.
In the ever-evolving landscape of copyright law, the BU Libraries will continue to create learning opportunities and collaborate with campus partners to assist users of information resources who have questions about the role of copyright, proactively develop solutions, and advance research and learning across the university.