Monthly Archive for February, 2019

Where Fair Use and Fair Dealing is Being Fought For

This week is Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week. It’s an opportunity to look at where librarians around the world are involved in efforts to defend and promote Fair Use and Fair Dealing. They are doing this because copyright rules that give librarians the space to adapt and update their practice make […]

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Fair’s Fair: How Fair Use and Fair Dealing Provide a Balanced Approach

In those countries where the introduction or extension of fair use or fair dealing is on the agenda, there is often a claim that this will lead to the end of payments for use of works. In South Africa, for example, those opposing the proposed reforms have implied that fair […]

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The 10-Minute Library Advocate #6: Find Out Who’s In Charge

The end goal of advocacy is to affect decision-making. You want to encourage those who have power – or resources – to support your library, library system, or libraries in general. Of course advocacy itself is about preparing the ground – building understanding, changing attitudes, creating the motivation to act. […]

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The 10-Minute Library Advocate #5: Think of Three Things Your Community Cares About

Libraries have always had a mission to respond to users’ needs. But to win the support of your community, it’s important to make it clear that you care about the things that matter to them. This is a lesson that politicians have long understood. People will vote for a candidate […]

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The Good, The Bad and (Avoiding) the Ugly: A Way Forwards on the Copyright Directive

Discussions around the European Union’s draft Directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market are as tense as ever. Strong divisions have emerged between and among Member States and Members of the European Parliament around controversial proposals for a new press publishers’ right (Article 11) and an (effective) obligation on […]

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The 10-Minute Library Advocate: #4 Learn Some Key Library Statistics

Numbers count. When you are making the case for your library – or libraries in general – you need to be able to appeal both to the heart, and the head, of the person you’re talking to. Being able to provide numbers also gives you greater credibility, and so makes […]

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The 10-Minute Library Advocate: #3 Check How Your Library Appears Online

Successful advocacy starts with building positive perceptions. As discussed last week, it is important to know what your users think about your library. The same goes for non-users, who may of course include politicians and other decision-makers. One of the key things that shapes the way your library is perceived […]

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