Technology and Copyright Issues in the Academic Library: First Sale, Fair Use and the Electronic Document

Abstract

First sale and fair use are two copyright principles of use in academic libraries that need to be reexamined in an information age offering the possibilities of universal access and perfect distribution in the electronic document. This technology has the potential to upset the traditional balance between the public and private spheres that have governed copyright doctrine. The library services that are perhaps most affected by these concerns are in the provision of electronic reserves and collections.