Copyright Policy Template

For Kendriya Vidyalaya School Libraries – Future-Ready Framework

1. Purpose

This policy ensures the ethical and legal use of information resources in the school library, including print, digital, and multimedia formats. It guides librarians, teachers, and students in respecting intellectual property rights while promoting access to knowledge.

2. Scope

Applies to:

• Print resources (books, magazines, newspapers)

• Digital resources (e-books, e-magazines, databases)

• Multimedia (audio, video, images)

• Student projects and teacher-created materials

3. Guiding Principles

• Respect for creators: Acknowledge authors, publishers, and artists.

• Fair use in education: Limited reproduction for teaching, research, and criticism.

• Promotion of open access: Encourage use of public domain and Creative Commons resources.

• Compliance with law: Follow Indian Copyright Act, 1957, and institutional guidelines.

4. Acceptable Practices

• Citations: All student and teacher work must include proper attribution.

• Limited photocopying: Only small portions of texts for classroom use.

• Digital sharing: Share links, not full downloads.

• Use of licensed content: Access e-resources through school subscriptions.

5. Prohibited Practices

• Full reproduction of books, magazines, or digital content.

• Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material.

• Plagiarism in student assignments.

• Circumventing digital rights management (DRM).

6. Librarian Responsibilities

• Educator role: Conduct workshops on copyright awareness.

• Policy enforcer: Monitor compliance in library use.

• Resource curator: Select open-access and licensed materials.

• Digital guide: Train students in ethical online research.

7. Student & Teacher Responsibilities

• Attribute sources in all assignments and projects.

• Use only permitted portions of print/digital resources.

• Seek librarian guidance when unsure about copyright.

• Respect subscription limits for e-magazines and databases.

8. Implementation & Review

• Annual audit of library practices.

• Orientation sessions for new students and staff.

• Policy review every two years to align with digital trends.

9. Conclusion

“A future-ready library is built not only on access to information but on respect for the creators of knowledge.”