Copyright Policy for Reserves: Photocopied Articles and Book Chapters

Book Chapters

Only one (1) chapter from a book may be placed on reserve unless the instructor received the copyright holder's written permission prior to submitting materials to Reserve. This applies to edited collections of readings and essays because each reading is considered a chapter.

Journals and newspapers

Only one (1) article from an issue of a journal or newspaper may be placed on Reserve unless the instructor received the copyright holder's written permission prior to submitting materials to reserve.

Multiple copies

Only one (1) copy of photocopied material is allowed for every 20 students enrolled in a class or any fraction thereof, with a maximum of 9 copies. The photocopy should contain the copyright statement.

US Government publications

Most federal government publications are in the public domain, i.e., they are not copyrighted, allowing unlimited use and reproduction. State and local government publications are probably copyrighted.

Consumables

Consumables will not be placed on reserve. These materials are not appropriate for reserve because one of the tenets of fair use is that use of the material not effect the market value. Consumables include workbooks, exercises, standardized tests and test booklets, answer sheets, etc. 

Course-packs

Custom published anthologies prepared for sale through local copy centers and bookstores are not appropriate for reserve because on of the tenets of fair use is that such use not effect the market value. Course-packs will not be placed on reserve.

Email - reserve@vt.edu

Phone - 540-231-6340