Reading assignment (for July 25, 2009)

Finding Free Media

Notess, Greg R. (Jan/Feb 2009). Finding Free Media. Proquest Online. Vol. 33, Iss. 1; pg. 41, 3pgs.

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1624428141&SrchMode=1&sid=7&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1247905882&clientId=51710

(Available to PROQUEST Online subscription)

Abstract
Creative Commons, an example of a copyleft group, was mainly introduced in this article including its licenses with conditions. Licenses such as (1) Attribution, (2) Non-commercial, (3) No derivative works, and the (4) Share alike were briefly discussed. It only states that the web is not just a public domain where one is free to use all the documents/files available because there is a certain law that governs it. It also suggests some helpful sources where one can download media files that are free-to-use or re-use provided that one must follow the terms of condition like asking for permission to the creator.

What I have learned:
1. Types of licenses promulgated by the “Creative Commons”.
2. Some websites which features free-to-use and re-use media files, namely: www.gimpsavvy.com for images, www.soundsnap.com for audio and www.blip.tv & http://commons.wikimedia.org for videos.
3. Copyright law is always violated and it is up to us to follow such rules guided by the principle of computer ethics.

Implication/Application:
As a professional librarian, I should abide the copyright law. During the process of dissemination of information to clients, my integrity is at stake in providing them the "right" information. I believe in the saying that “Integrity is doing the right thing even if no one will know or nobody is watching”. Copy and paste are some of the procedures that should be avoided or rather must be observed basically when trying to copy/cite a particular work.