FAQs Browse

I'm not registered this semester. Can I still borrow books and access databases and ejournals from off campus?

Your library privileges automatically expire when your registration lapses. However, if you are an SFU undergraduate student you may request "Semester Off" privileges at the Circulation/Loans desk in the Library to have your library account validated for a semester in which you are not registered (for example, if you take the Summer term off and plan to return in the Fall). This privilege is limited to one semester only.

This "Semester off" privilege allows you to continue to borrow library materials and access online resources such as databases and electronic journals from outside the Library with your SFU Computing ID and password.

Access to interlibrary loan services (i.e. requesting books and journal articles from non-SFU Libraries) is not included with "Semester off" status. Interlibrary loan privileges will be restored when you are registered for classes once again. 

"Semester Off" privileges are not available for Graduate students.
 

I'm sure I returned the book on time, but I was fined anyway. What can I do?

You may appeal.

I'm taking an SFU non-credit course. Can I use the library?

See Non-credit students: Borrowing Library materials for further information.

If a work does not have a copyright notice (or © symbol), is it protected by copyright?

Most likely. Copyright protection exists as soon as a work is created. Under Canadian copyright law, the work does not need to be registered and the symbol © is not required to appear on the work. There may not even be any reference to copyright protection. It is not necessary but it is possible for the work to be registered under a voluntary government registration system, such as with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). Copyright does expire, however, after which the work is no longer protected regardless of any copyright notice or symbol.

Other countries have different laws and regulations which govern copyright protection, but due to international treaties most countries offer similar protection. Works created in most other countries are protected in Canada under Canadian copyright law.

If I am the author or creator of a work, can I copy the work for my students?

As the author or creator of the work, you likely own copyright in it unless you have assigned (i.e., transferred) ownership of copyright to someone else such as a publisher.

If you own copyright in the work you can use it in any way you like, such as posting it in your Canvas course, including it in a course pack, or handing out copies in class.

If you transferred copyright to a publisher or another party, you can copy the work within the limits on the Copyright and Teaching infographic or contact the copyright owner to request permission to use it.

If I have permission to post something to Canvas does this mean I can also include it in my course pack?

If you posted the content in Canvas under fair dealing or another exception in the Copyright Act (i.e., within the guidelines detailed on the Copyright and Teaching Infographic), it can be included in a course pack without further permission.

If, however, the content was posted in Canvas under the license terms on a journal subscription or other content through SFU Library, you should check the license terms in the Library catalogue to see whether inclusion in a course pack is also permitted. Some copyright holders will grant permission to put material on password-protected websites such as Canvas or another learning management system, but not to copy the material in a course pack. The SFU Bookstore can confirm whether separate permission is required for use in a course pack.

If my supervisor requests formatting that is different from the thesis template, do I need to submit one format to my supervisor and another format to the library?

 

No.  You can submit the same format to the library. 

While some rules must be followed, others can vary and may be changed (for more details, see Publishing Styles in APA, MLA, Chicago (etc.)).  If you choose to change the formatting in your thesis, this needs to be done by modifying the appropriate styles.  Changing the formatting manually (one-by-one) may adversely affect the output in the PDF.  You can learn how to modify your styles in the Thesis Template: Fine-tuning & Trouble-shooting Workshop.

 

Is anyone available to help instructors obtain copyright permission?

The Bookstore obtains copyright permissions for course packs; the Library obtains permissions for its electronic collection of non-journal materials (e-books, streaming video, music, etc.) as well as journals and article indexes and databases; and the Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE) obtains permission for fully on-line and distance education courses offered through that program. For other uses, you may obtain permission yourself by simply emailing or writing a letter to the copyright owner.

Is everything on the Internet in the public domain, and therefore fair game?

A work enters the public domain only after copyright expires, or if the creator has designated the work as such. 

Most material found on the Internet is protected just like any other material (unless otherwise indicated). Text, charts, graphs, tables, photographs, music, movies, graphics, postings to news groups, blogs, e-mail messages, images, video clips, and computer software do not lose copyright protection simply because they are posted on the Internet.  

However, as outlined in the Copyright and Teaching Infographic, educators are allowed to copy, distribute, communicate, or perform, works found on the Internet to their students, provided that:

  1. The work is properly cited (e.g., source, author, performer, maker, and/or broadcaster),
  2. The work is publicly available (e.g., access is not restricted by a Technological Protection Measure),
  3. There is no clearly visible notice (not just the © copyright symbol alone) prohibiting the intended use, and
  4. It is apparent that the work was not made available in violation of the copyright owner’s rights.
Is it okay to use images or other material from the Internet for educational purposes?

It depends on what you want to do. Materials on the Internet are treated the same under copyright law as any other copyright protected materials, so if you want to use them, they have to either fall within one of the Act’s exceptions (such as fair dealing or the educational exception relating to materials from the Internet), or be open access or in the public domain.

Under the educational exception, you are permitted to copy, distribute, communicate or perform works found on the Internet to your students, provided that:

  1. The work is properly cited (e.g., source, author, performer, maker and/or broadcaster),
  2. The work is publicly available (i.e. access is not restricted by a technological protection measure),
  3. There is no clearly visible notice prohibiting the intended use (note that the © copyright symbol alone does not prohibit use), and
  4. It is apparent that the work was not copied or made available online in violation of the copyright owner's rights.

If what you want to use isn’t from an open access or public domain source and does not fall into one of the Act’s exceptions you will have to obtain permission from the copyright owner. You should check the website’s ‘Terms of Use’ or ‘Legal Notices’ section to confirm what conditions apply to use of the website’s material, including whether educational use is explicitly prohibited. Some websites will allow non-commercial educational use of their materials.