Legal and Ethical Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real GLC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Legal and Ethical Principles flashcards as text
What does the doctrine of 'fair use' primarily allow under U.S. copyright law?
Answer: Limited use of copyrighted material without permission under specific conditions
Fair use permits limited, unlicensed use of copyrighted works for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research.
A patron asks the reference librarian to interpret whether their specific use of a copyrighted image is legal. What is the most ethically appropriate response?
Answer: Advise the patron to consult an attorney and offer general information about copyright
Librarians should avoid giving legal advice; the appropriate response is to refer the patron to legal counsel and provide educational information.
Which principle requires librarians to treat all patrons equitably regardless of origin, background, or viewpoint?
Answer: Equity of access
Equity of access is an ALA core value requiring librarians to provide services without discrimination.
A librarian is asked to create a course packet for a professor containing chapters from multiple copyrighted books. What is the primary legal concern?
Answer: Copyright licensing and reproduction rights
Reproducing substantial portions of copyrighted books for course packets requires permission or a license from the rights holders.
Which of the following best describes 'weeding' in the context of library ethics?
Answer: Removing materials that are outdated, damaged, or irrelevant according to professional criteria
Ethical weeding (deselection) is based on professional criteria such as currency, condition, and relevance—not community pressure or political requests.
A library employee receives a gift from a vendor seeking to sell database subscriptions. According to ethical standards, what should the employee do?
Answer: Disclose the gift to a supervisor and follow the institution's conflict of interest policy
ALA's Code of Ethics and most institutional policies require disclosure of gifts from vendors to avoid conflicts of interest.
The TEACH Act expanded which copyright exemption specifically for distance education?
Answer: Section 110(2) of the Copyright Act
The TEACH Act amended Section 110(2) of the Copyright Act to allow accredited, nonprofit educational institutions to transmit certain copyrighted works in distance learning.