Welcome to our library! We are committed to providing you access to many resources while ensuring compliance with copyright laws. This guide explains copyright and publishing in the Indian context and how it affects your use of library materials.

What Is Copyright?

Copyright is a legal right that protects the creators of original works such as books, articles, music, and digital content. In India, copyright is governed by the Copyright Act of 1957, which ensures creators have exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and share their works.

Key Points:

• Automatic Protection: Copyright is automatically granted when a work is created in a tangible form.
• Duration: It typically lasts the author’s lifetime plus 60 years.
• Fair Dealing: Limited use of copyrighted material is allowed for education, research, and private study purposes.

How Copyright Affects Library Use

As a library user, you can access various physical and digital resources. However, copyright laws govern how these materials can be used.

What You Can Do:

• Automatic Protection: Copyright is automatically granted when a work is created in a tangible form.
• Duration: It typically lasts the author’s lifetime plus 60 years.
• Fair Dealing: Limited use of copyrighted material is allowed for education, research, and private study purposes.
• 1. Borrow Books and Media: You can borrow physical items like books and DVDs. Lending is allowed under the law.
• 2. Access Digital Resources:You can read e-books and access online journals based on the library’s licensing agreements.
• 3. Use for Research or Study: Under fair dealing provisions, you can use portions of works for non-commercial research or private study.

What You Should Avoid:

• Copying or reproducing large portions of any material.
• Using library resources for commercial purposes.
• Sharing digital materials outside the terms of use.

Digital Resources and Licensing:

Our library subscribes to digital platforms and journals to bring you e-books, articles, and other online content. These resources are often governed by licensing agreements, which may restrict:

• Downloading large portions of content.
• Sharing access credentials with others.
• Printing or copying entire books or journals.

Always review the terms of use for any digital resource you access through the library.

Fair Dealing and Copyright Exceptions:

In India, fair dealing allows you to use small portions of copyrighted works without explicit permission for purposes like:

• Educational use in classrooms.
• Research and private study.
• Criticism or review.

For example, photocopying a few pages of a book for academic purposes is permitted, but reproducing an entire book is not.

Accessing Rare and Archival Materials

For rare and fragile materials, our library works under copyright guidelines to preserve and digitize these resources. Access to such materials may be restricted, and permissions may be required for reproduction or distribution.

Libraries as Publishers

Our library also supports academic publishing by hosting and sharing resources like:

• Theses and Dissertations: Access research outputs through platforms like Shodhganga.
• Open Access Journals: Find scholarly articles available for free under open-access initiatives.

Your Role in Responsible Use

We encourage all users to:

• Cite materials appropriately when using them in your work.
• Respect copyright when using or sharing library resources.
• Look for materials with open-access licenses for unrestricted use

For more information, explore tools like Creative Commons, which allow creators to share their works while specifying usage terms.

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Resources and Help:

If you have questions about copyright or how to use library materials:

• Speak to a librarian at the help desk.
• Visit the Indian Copyright Office for more details on copyright laws.
• Explore platforms like DELNET, INFLIBNET, and NDLI for additional resources.