Library Tour: My Camera might capture some Magazaine and Book Titles?

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  • Hello!

    I am planning on making a video of our library. We want to post an online visual tour for students. I will be showcasing our resources, and I want to introduce both our staff and our collection. Is it copyright infringement if any of our book titles are visible in the video? Also, is it copyright infringement if when I introduce our newspapers and periodicals the viewers can see Newsweek or Journal of Pediatric Nursing? I have looked high and low for the answer. Many many thanks.

    Kara Schwartz
    Associate Librarian of Circulation and Technical Services.
  • I really don't think it's anything to worry about! The problem cases have been with libraries showing thumbnails of covers in their catalogs. I think a tour video would go by so quickly and show covers and titles in such low resolution that nobody would have anything to complain about. But that's just off the top of my head, and others may have additional advice.
  • Thank you for your input Janet. I really appreciate it.
  • I agree with Janet. Further, book titles are not copyrightable, so even if you lingered over the spines, I think you would be in good shape. Covers are a little different, but even if people can make them out, what you describe sounds to this non-lawyer like pretty straightforward fair use.
  • Fantastic answers. I feel a lot better now about filming our tour of our library. Many thanks Freya!

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