BarTalk October 2002
Volume 14, Number 5

Copyright Compliance and Self-Service Photocopying at Libraries

The BC Courthouse Library Society (BCCLS) has implemented new photocopy procedures to ensure compliance with fair dealing aspects of copyright law. New procedures include requesting that users abide by certain conditions when making photocopies on public access photocopiers and printers. The procedures are in response to the judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal in CCH Canadian Ltd. v. Law Society of Upper Canada 2002 FCA 187. Users may still use copy cards in photocopiers but the BCCLS asks users to sign a notice of permitted photocopy practice when purchasing copy cards. The coin operation of photocopiers has been discontinued in order to ensure that permitted photocopy practice forms are signed prior to copying.

The BCCLS plans to make changes to full service photocopying procedures in the near future, to require users to sign a notice of permitted photocopy practice prior to BCCLS staff commencing service photocopying. The Society will inform BCCLS users in advance of any procedure changes.

Online Catalogue Update
The BCCLS is upgrading its online catalogue system to provide more information to users regarding the status of the collection and for improved tracking of materials. The new circulation system, to be introduced in November, will provide web-access to information regarding the loan status of materials in the Vancouver collection. In Vancouver, there will be new procedures for borrowing books and for the use of BCCLS library cards; loan policies will also change.

Full information will be provided to BCCLS users prior to the introduction of the new system. Stay tuned for further updates.

This article was published in the October 2002 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.