CHICAGO — 91´«Ã½ Editions announces a new iteration of its popular eCourse . Lesley Ellen Harris will serve as the instructor for this four-week facilitated eCourse starting on Aug. 31, 2015.

Libraries are hubs of content, not all of it purchased or licensed from traditional publishers. As libraries move into the roles of publisher, platform-provider or aggregator, making sure that your staff has basic knowledge of copyright is important. Following copyright best practices can protect your institution from cease-and-desist letters, time-draining threats and lawsuits. The first step is to develop an effective and practical copyright education plan. Lesley Ellen Harris, an intellectual property attorney, has trained libraries, museums and corporations in copyright. She will guide you step by step through developing a copyright education program for your staff and community.

Topics covered include:

• Understanding the risks of copyright infringement and how to protect your library from lawsuits
• Understanding the need for compliance under U.S. and global copyright law
• Evaluating copyright issues in your library
• Developing a copyright education plan
• Assessing materials, content, and technology in order to equip an instruction team for your institution
• Keeping your educational program up to date

eCourse outline

• Why Copyright Education
• Organizational Considerations
  • Copyright Education Leadership
  • Evaluating Copyright Issues in Your Organization
  • Preparing a Copyright Education Plan
• Implementing A Copyright Education Program
  • Developing Content for your Copyright Education
  • Format of Copyright Education
  • Copyright Program Development and Progression
• Additional Copyright Education Resources

About the Instructor

Lesley Ellen Harris is a copyright, licensing, and digital property expert who consults on legal, business, policy, and strategic issues in the publishing, entertainment, Internet, and information industries. She frequently works with libraries, archives, museums, and educational institutions. She teaches in-person and online courses on copyright and licensing through and in conjunction with national and regional associations in Canada and the United States. Harris is the author of numerous articles and several books including (2nd ed., 2009). She maintains the informative website .

Registration for this 91´«Ã½ Editions facilitated eCourse, which begins on Aug. 31, 2015, can be purchased at the . Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. 91´«Ã½ authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact 91´«Ã½ Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 3244 or editionscoursehelp@ala.org.

purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.