[kids-lib] summer reading copyright?

Fri May 28 12:32:54 PDT 2010

Hello!  I just wanted to give you an update on the Rule of Use discussion.  Esther, Paige, Heidi and I (your CSLP reps) have been saving your feedback, and encourage you to continue the discussion online so we can get more input from more Oregon librarians.  The four of us have started discussing how to compile your feedback and use it to start a discussion with other state representatives prior to the next CSLP meeting.  Our hope is that other states will start collecting feedback from their libraries to bring to the next CSLP meeting too.  Then, we can approach the CSLP Executive Board together.  As Karen Fischer said in an earlier email on this topic, we need to speak with a united voice.

The better we understand the current Rules of Use the better we can advocate for change.  Several comments have been made around who owns the copyright.  Just to clarify, the introduction to the Rules of Use state that the artists owns the copyright to their work, and the vendor negotiates with the artists for exclusive use of their art for both CSLP members and the vendor.  I also have a question out to the Chair of the Rules of Use committee regarding the history around the Rules of Use, and will let you know her answer as soon as I have it. If you have any questions about the Rules of Use please let me know, if I don't know the answer I'll ask the CSLP Rules of Use Chair.

If you aren't comfortable participating in this conversation via the listserv, but you would like contribute feedback for us to share with CSLP please send a personal email to me at katie.anderson at state.or.us<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us> and I'll add it to the list.

Thank you,
Katie

Katie Anderson, Library Development Services
* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *
Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
katie.anderson at state.or.us<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us>, 503-378-2528
From: kids-lib-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us [mailto:kids-lib-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Campbell, Dana
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 11:52 AM
To: BOGART Debra S; BJ Toewe; kids-lib at listsmart.osl.state.or.us; oyan at listsmart.osl.state.or.us; Katie Anderson
Subject: Re: [kids-lib] summer reading copyright?

Hi Everyone,

Been following the discussion and felt I might as well express my thoughts, since it was me who brought CLSP to Oregon.

We actually joined the Collaborative the year I was the CSD chair and looking for ways to save the Oregon Statewide Summer Reading Program.Debra's year was the first full year of implementation in Oregon.  I'm not sure how far we want to go back into the reasons we joined CLSP but at the time we did, joining CLSP saved the Oregon Statewide Summer Reading Program.  Prior to being a member of CLSP Oregon had been originally been doing our own statewide manual which required a lot of energy, time, travel and work and wasn't always the best.  Then, during the time we were partnering with Metropolitan Group, we had great art and materials which were  much more expensive, and ended up with an enormous debt which took two years+ to resolve.  I don't want to go back to those days.  This would mean taking a giant step back in summer reading.

I am extremely disappointed to hear that Highsmith basically wants to have a monopoly on anything CSLP.  I know that the company will use the art again, at least a year later, for a more general reading promotion.  Are they afraid that all of us are going to dig out our CD's from years past and incorporate the artwork once again?  Are they afraid they are going to miss a buck? Highsmith makes a lot of money from the CSLP.  A lot of money! One of the biggest reasons for joining CLSP is have access to high quality artwork and a complete summer reading manual.  Libraries on a small budget/no budget were able to produce high quality summer reading materials and programs.  Some libraries do purchase a lot of materials, others do not.  That's OK.   Does Highsmith think they are not selling as much CLSP material because we are creating our own?  Are sales down this year?  Of course, library budgets are down this year as well.  Is Highsmith reacting to the economy and taking it out on CLSP?

Has anyone talked with the Executive Board of CLSP to let them know what kind of hardship the limitation of use of the art will be?  So many libraries across the nation are facing bigger and bigger finanacial cuts and the CLSP is one thing that has been affordable, optional to use and helps create support for libraries on a united front both statewide and nationwide. Also, I don't know if Highsmith would enjoy having negative press about something such as Summer Reading.  I remember, when CLSP was small they had a much stronger voice because Highsmith wanted their business. This situation makes me feel as if Highsmith has taken over the CLSP program and they now call the shots.  Say this isn't so.  I hope enough states are speaking up to both CLSP and Highsmith this is not acceptable.

Dana

Dana Campbell, Youth Services Librarian
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
645 Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR  97330
541-766-6784
Fax:  541-766-6915
dana.campbell at ci.corvallis.or.us
PNLA Oregon Representative 2008-2010
ALA SRRT Amelia Bloomer Cmmt. 2008-2012

________________________________
From: kids-lib-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us [mailto:kids-lib-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of BOGART Debra S
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 10:00 AM
To: 'BJ Toewe'; '(kids-lib at listsmart.osl.state.or.us)'; '(oyan at listsmart.osl.state.or.us)'; Katie Anderson
Subject: Re: [kids-lib] summer reading copyright?
Hi all-
I agree with BJ; my memory, from serving as CSD chair the year that Oregon joined the collaborative, is that originally CSLP did solely own the copyright to the art and did not own it jointly with Highsmith. So I believe that has changed over the years. I agree that many libraries, including ours, are or could be easily priced out of the market with Highsmith's materials. We don't use reading records, but if we did have to purchase the 7500+ that we'd need, it would put a large dent in either our programming or the number of free books we could give away.
Perhaps the cost of using a well-known illustrator has sky-rocketed in the past five years. But it is also true that this year and last year, we have liked only a few of the individual clip art graphics and have disliked several of them and chosen not to use them anyway. So many libraries or states might be happy with lower cost art from lesser known artists? Just some more thoughts for our representatives to take to the meeting, thank you-
Deb

Debra Bogart
Youth Services
Summer Reading Co-Coordinator
Eugene Public Library

From: kids-lib-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us [mailto:kids-lib-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of BJ Toewe
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 3:03 PM
To: '(kids-lib at listsmart.osl.state.or.us)'; '(oyan at listsmart.osl.state.or.us)'; Katie Anderson
Subject: Re: [kids-lib] summer reading copyright?

Hi Katie,

I am supposed to be out of the summer reading loop but can't contain my thoughts on this, in spite of trying really hard.

I would like to see delegates to CSLP actively lobby for changes to this rule.  There seems to be less validity in participating in a cooperative that disallows use of the summer reading program clip art for customized reading logs, final certificates, etc.  While I understand that Highsmith would like to be sole source for all things reading club, their pricing doesn't make it possible for many, many libraries to order their products.  While I value things that many libraries would never be able to afford - a large vinyl banner in full color, a variety of t-shirts sporting the summer theme, full color bookmarks - I question the wisdom of CSLP negotiating a contract that won't allow a small library to print off reading logs or certificates on their photocopier using that summer's clip art.  One of the main reasons for joining this cooperative was the ability to obtain high quality art work that would have been unaffordable for Oregon to obtain on its own.  However, the strength of branding is negated when libraries are not allowed to use that artwork to create their summer reading materials.

I know from when I was the CSLP rep that Highsmith enjoys a really wonderful return on the investment it makes of time and money to produce these materials.  I also know that CSLP benefits with a percentage kickback from Highsmith that can be used to reinvest in continuing this venture from year to year.  I don't think that either entity would find participation in future years unaffordable if this rule was changed.  Perhaps total income would go down but making this program work for libraries with smaller reading club budgets should be an important aspect as well.  Finally, if this is untenable to Highsmith, we all know of other vendors who might be interested in collaborating with CSLP, even with the change in clip art rules.  While I'm not advocating for moving from Highsmith as our vendor, I do think that the rules for use of clip art are in drastic need of change.

If my assessment of this situation doesn't accurately reflect the views of youth services librarians around the state, please do weigh in on the subject.  I certainly haven't taken the time to make calls and survey librarians around the state.

My two (long-winded) cents....
BJ

BJ Toewe
Library Administrator
Salem Public Library
PO Box 14810
Salem, OR   97309
503-588-6084
bjtoewe at cityofsalem.net<mailto:bjtoewe at cityofsalem.net>

>>> Katie Anderson <katie.anderson at state.or.us> 5/26/2010 4:12 PM >>>
Hello!  I just received the following question, and thought you all might like to know the answer.

Katie, maybe I am misunderstanding but it seems that some of the Oregon libraries are misunderstanding the copyright issue - basically to not compete with items already sold by Highsmith/upstart? I think they are seeing it as all clipart being copyrighted by highsmith and unable to be used by them when in fact they can use the clipart for their everything that is not duplicating what highsmith currently sales in their catalog? If I'm wrong on this, please correct me.
Thanks!

Yes, you are correct!  Both the clip-art in the manual and by the artists can be used for products that do not duplicate what Highsmith currently offers.

The clarification is around what is considered a duplication of paper products.  For example, many libraries around the country have different reading goals/records, therefore the reading records offered by Highsmith don't work for them.  In the past we thought it was OK to use the clip-art to create our own reading record because Highsmith didn't offer a similar reading record.  This year we learned that since Highsmith offers a reading record we can't use the clip-art to create a different type of reading record.  We can still use the art on sign-up forms, events calendars, booklists, event promotions/signs/brochures, and other materials not available to purchase from Highsmith/Upstart.

Thanks,
katie

Katie Anderson, Library Development Services
* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *
Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
katie.anderson at state.or.us<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us>, 503-378-2528
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