The Ross Pendergraft Library offers extensive collections of print, electronic, and multimedia resources. Materials are accessible for use by students, faculty, staff, and administration. These materials and library services are provided with careful adherence to the copyright laws of the United States in Article 17 U.S.C. Information pertaining to these laws and exceptions are provided in order to give patrons tools to make informed decisions regarding use of library materials.
Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States for "original works of authorship", including literary, dramatic, musical, architectural, cartographic, choreographic, pantomimic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, and audiovisual creations. "Copyright" literally means the right to copy but has come to mean that body of exclusive rights granted by law to copyright owners for protection of their work. Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, title, principle, or discovery. Similarly, names, titles, short phrases, slogans, familiar symbols, mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, coloring, and listings of contents or ingredients are not subject to copyright. (U.S. Copyright Office:
What is Copyright?)