Wednesday, January 13, 2010

INF 390N.2 Seminar in Information Policy: Copyright, Privacy, and First Amendment Law

Course Description

To whomsoever much has been given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, of him a larger amount will be demanded.
Luke 12:48

As an information professional, you will be entrusted with shaping the future of our society’s ability to create, access, and use information. You are preparing to enter the information profession at the most exciting time in history – exciting and even tumultuous because of the rapid and constant changes in our world that greatly effect how we as a society create, access, use, and think about information, as well as changes within the world of information itself. Our profession plays a huge role in determining how we as a society create, access, use, and think about information. More than ever, it is imperative that information professionals are knowledgeable about and able to adapt, apply, and contribute to the interpretation and development of laws and ethics effecting information. As a professional, you must be prepared able to answer questions such as: how can your institution make use of peer-to-peer technology without violating copyright law? what do you do when your library receives a national security letter ordering you to turn over use library records? how do you respond to community demands to remove certain books from your shelves or install specific filtering software? Most importantly: what is your responsibility and your role in joining the national debates on these and related issues? This course will introduce you to three of the most important such areas at this time: copyright, First Amendment law, and privacy law. You will learn the basics of the law in these areas and how to consider their application and import in the context of ethics and policy.

Course Objectives

· Learn how to read and analyze case law and statutes
· Learn the basics of copyright law and know how to apply copyright law to both traditional and digital situations common in libraries
· Understand how the First Amendment applies to libraries and other information contexts
· Learn how to respond to censorship challenges to materials in all media and formats
· Understand the privacy rights of library users and employees
· Be able to articulate how these three areas of law effect information users’ ability to access and use information
· Understand the interaction between these areas of law and our professional ethics
· Understand your role in forming policy in these areas at all levels and methods for doing so

Syllabus

Syllabus
A complete Syllabus with dates and reading assignments will be posted no later than Sunday, January 17.  The following outlines the content of the course:


I. Introduction
·       What does it mean to be a professional?
·       Why is it imperative for 21st century librarians to be knowledgeable about and able to apply certain areas of law?  Which?
·       How does the law influence our professional ethics?  How do our professional ethics influence our application of the law?
·       Overview of class structure

II. Studying legal issues
·       Structure of law
·       Reading cases
·       Researching the law
·       Writing about law

III. Copyright
·       What is the point of copyright law?
·       Is it “good” or “bad” for information professionals?
·       What are the major issues for libraries and other information settings?
A. Copyright Basics
B. Exceptions and Fair Use
C. Copyright in the digital arena
D. Licensing
E. Copyright policies
F. Wrap-up
·  How does current state of law mesh with real world situations?
·  How balanced are we?
·  What’s the ethical side of copyright?
·  Any concerns?!  What’s your role?

IV. Intellectual Freedom
·       First Amendment law
·       Protected versus unprotected speech
·       Government regulation of speech
·       Access to information and freedom to read?
·       Other uses of the Internet in library settings
·       The Library as Public Forum
·       IF  policies
·       Guest speaker

V. Privacy
·       Development of a right of privacy
·       Specific laws
·       Library-specific issues
·       Privacy policies

Course Requirements

1. Readings – Each class session will have required and recommended readings associated with the topics to be covered in that session.  You should be prepared to discuss the contents of the required readings in class, including analyzing and critiquing the author’s position and being able to apply a particular reading to the larger context of the subject matter.  Some sessions will also have FYI readings, which are not required but which might be helpful to you in understanding and thinking about the subject matter.

2.  Short Papers – You will be required to write three short (3-5 pages) papers, one for each area of law we discuss.  Papers will be submitted via Blackboard email.  Each paper will be worth 10% of your grade.

3.  Case Briefs – You will be required to brief three cases, one for each area of law we will study.  Briefs will be submitted via Blackboard email.  Each brief will be worth 5% of your grade.

4.  Long Paper – You will also write a final paper (roughly 10-12  pages) on a topic of your choosing.  Papers will be submitted via Blackboard email.  You will present your paper to the class for discussion during the final class periods.  This paper will constitute 35% of your grade.

5.  Discussions and Class Participation – You will be expected to participate in both F2F class discussions and online discussions.  Your level of participation will be a consideration in grading.  Each will be worth 10% of your grade.  The focus on both is quality over quantity!


Grading System

Short papers (3):  10 pts. each (30 total)
Case briefs (3): 5 pts. each (15 total)
Final paper: 35 pts.
Online discussion/analysis:  10 pts.
Participation in F2F classes:  10 pts.

You will not receive credit for late assignments.  If you have a true emergency and must miss a deadline, you must speak to me before the deadline, either live or via Blackboard email.