Menu

The LibVine

What's going on at Dalhousie Libraries

Category: Agriculture

Copyright Workshop

Copyright Workshop
Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue
Room 3089
Thursday, January 31/1:30-4 p.m.
Bring your copyright questions for our experts.

How much do you know about copyright issues? If you want to learn more about copyright law in Canada, consider attending this upcoming workshop.

The workshop will feature copyright and intellectual property experts Ian Colford and Jason MacDonald from Dalhousie Libraries’ Copyright Office; Mark Lewis, reference/information technology librarian from Dalhousie’s  Sir James Dunn Law Library; and Marc Belliveau, Intellectual Property Partner at Stewart McKelvey.

Each presenter will focus on various aspects of copyright and intellectual property laws and issues in Canada.

This workshop is being presented by the Dalhousie  Journal of Interdisciplinary Management (DJIM), in conjunction with Dalhousie’s Canadian Association of Law Libraries Student Interest Group (CALL).

For more information, contact djim@dal.ca

Copyright Rules? Business as Usual

Welcome back, students and faculty. While there’s been a lot of talk about copyright rules changing with Parliament having passed Bill C-11 (an act to amend the Copyright Act, which is not yet enacted), we wanted to let you know that as of right now, nothing’s changed from last year at Dalhousie.

That means when you’re making copies, please continue to rely on the copyright compliance best practices that have already been established. When making or distributing hard or digital copies, please do so only to the extent permitted under an existing Dal Libraries or University license (other than Access Copyright), under the Dalhousie University Fair Dealing Guidelines, or with the permission of the publisher.  Following these best practices helps to ensure that the University is in a well-established position to operate without a blanket license.

Dalhousie is currently working on a framework to guide us in developing ethical and sustainable copying practices. The development of this framework, well underway, in combination with a movement towards Open Access, will enable Dal to eventually operate without the additional expense of a blanket copyright license.

We anticipate some dramatic changes in the copyright landscape once Bill C-11 is enacted.  We also anticipate a revision of the current Dalhousie Fair Dealing Guidelines soon that will include a more expansive interpretation of the Copyright Act due to a number of recent decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada.  More robust copying practices for educational purposes will be possible at that time — we will update you when this happens. In the meantime, if you have questions about copyright, visit the Dalhousie Libraries’ Copyright Office page, or contact Intellectual Property Assistant Jason MacDonald.

Dealing with Fair Dealing in a Digital Age

Lunch & Learn
Presenter: Jason MacDonald, Intellectual Property Assistant
May 23, noon – 1pm
Killam Library Room 2616

The latest attempt to modernize the Copyright Act of Canada has received third and final reading this week before Parliament. Bill C-11 attempts to bring Canada’s copyright laws into the modern age with what are seen as significant updates and amendments.


C-11 has been described as ‘flawed but fixable’. What are the potential impacts of its flaws and strengths on Canada’s Fair Dealing provision, and what can be done to make sure users’ rights aren’t eroded? Come to this presentation by Dal’s own Intellectual Property Assistant and find out. All are welcome–don’t forget to bring your lunch!

Welcome Jason MacDonald, Intellectual Property Assistant




The Dalhousie Libraries are delighted to welcome Jason MacDonald, who joins our staff as Intellectual Property Assistant, based in the Killam Library, effective April 16. Jason comes to Dalhousie from Medicine Hat College in Alberta where he served as Copyright Information Officer/Information Services Technician.

After completing a BA degree at Dal, Jason received a Library and Information Technology Diploma from NSCC. Since 2002 he has worked at the Medicine Hat College library providing a variety of services, including reference and instruction and interlibrary loan, taking on the copyright portfolio in 2005.

Here at the Dal Libraries Jason will be working closely with Donna Bourne-Tyson and Ian Colford on copyright issues, as well as the further development of open access initiatives on campus. He will also be handling day-to-day responsibilities in the Killam Library Administration Office.

“Returning home to Nova Scotia to this exciting opportunity at Dal was an easy decision!” Jason remarks. “The natural beauty of the city and province, the appeal of being closer to family and friends as well as the reputation of the institution all combined to bring me home to stay.”

You can reach Jason with copyright questions by phone at 494-3601, or email him: jason.macdonald@dal.ca. He’s also on Twitter: @jay_macd

Please join us in welcoming Jason to the Dalhousie Libraries!

Copyright Update For Dal Faculty

As you prepare course materials for the winter term, please bear in mind that copyright rules have changed recently. Because the university’s license with Access Copyright has not been renewed, the Dalhousie Print Centre cannot produce course packs or make copies of copyright-protected materials where the permission of the copyright holders of those materials has not been obtained. There are off-campus alternatives to the Print Centre where course packs can be produced under license. If you are using a Blackboard site to distribute materials to students, remember to post a link to the document rather than upload a digital copy.

The Copyright Office can assist if you have questions or if you need help obtaining permissions.

Check the Copyright Office website to see if your question is addressed there, or call or email Ian Colford (494-3687, ian.colford@dal.ca).

New Guide to the Public Domain

Fresh off the heels of Open Access Week, we’re pleased to announce a new guide – A Guide to the Public Domain.

The public domain refers to all creative works not covered by copyright.  Generally a work enters the public domain in one of three ways:

  • When copyright expires
  • When the work is so old it was created before copyright protection existed
  • When the copyright owner chooses to put a work in the public domain.

Public domain works must still be cited properly, but they can be copied, used, or modified in any way without asking for permission.  Although the majority of materials held by the Dalhousie Libraries are copyrighted or under some kind of license, there is a small but growing body of materials entering the public domain.  The guide provides resources and information to help you determine the copyright status of a particular work.   Over time, we’ll be adding examples of items held by the Dalhousie Libraries that are in the public domain.

If you have questions about copyright, fair dealing, and the public domain, check with the Copyright Office.  You can also consult the Open Access Subject Guide and the Copyright Subject Guide.

Let us know what you think!

Dal Copyright Officer Jo-Ann Riggs Retires

Dalhousie University and the Dal Libraries’ loss is the quilting world’s gain.
Jo-Ann Riggs, who has worked as Dal’s Copyright Officer in the Killam Library since 1995, is retiring effective August 31, although in fact she walks out the door today a retired lady, using some vacation time to bump up the official date.

Jo-Ann is a familiar face and voice to many at Dal, who have relied on her expertise to find out if they can show a certain video in their class, what exactly they can photocopy for distribution, and how to make sense of the Fair Dealing guidelines. Libraries staff have also depended on Jo-Ann to sort out our often confusing payroll and budget issues. And she’s done it all with unruffled competence and a ready laugh.

Boredom certainly won’t be a problem in retirement for Jo-Ann, who will be continuing to work on a casual basis at the Killam for a little while. She has a quilt slated to be a June wedding gift to finish, a garden to tend, and lots of trips already being planned. From all your friends and colleagues here at Dal Jo-Ann—it’s been a real pleasure working with you. Enjoy all your new adventures!

Copyright Office website