The library provides a number of services created specifically with faculty needs in mind. Use the links below to learn more about these resources, and be sure to reach out to your library liaison if you have any needs or concerns that aren't addressed here.
Copyright information for faculty
Faculty are required to comply with the Fair Use guidelines and the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
How the library can help
The librarians can help you determine if you need to request copyright permission for something you wish to use in class, and can assist you with obtaining permission to use copyrighted materials when needed. To obtain copyright permission, go to the Library's Electronic Reserves page and follow the attached instructions to obtain copyright clearance for items that you wish to use in your class. You are also encouraged to contact your library liaison or the university Intellectual Property Coordinator, Beth Clausen, Dean, Library and Information Services, with questions that you have about copyright.
e-Reserves steps for copyright permission
- Enter your name and Metropolitan State University email
- Enter Course info (for example: ERES 100)
- If course already exists, select from drop down menu
- If this is a new course, you will need to enter info including instructor information and password to be used. This is the password your students will use to access the course page.
- Attach the file or add the link to the database the item is located in. If item has been used before, put a note in the additional info/instruction. Do not enter a password here. Visibility is automatically set to the semester.
- Select the type of item you are adding (article, chapter, etc.)
- Attach the file or add the link to the database the item is located in. If item has been used before, put a note in the additional info/instruction. Do not enter a password here.
- Visibility is automatically set to the semester.
Please note that you generally do not need to request copyright permission for library database articles if you create a static link to them, nor do you need to request permission for items in the public domain, are under a Creative Commons license, or that fall under academic fair use guidelines.
More resources
Minnesota State has developed an intellectual property website to guide faculty on issues related to intellectual property and copyright. The University of Minnesota has an informative Copyright website, with a useful Copyright Decision Map tool. The librarians at Metropolitan State University have developed this guide to copyright, the public domain and Creative Commons.
Liaisons
A faculty librarian is assigned to serve as a liaison to each of the disciplines at Metropolitan State. You can call or email your liaison for assistance, request library handouts, request specialized course pages and more. The librarians may be able to provide in-class presentations or instruction for your courses, although we limit this to only specific research courses within each major.
| College or School | Department/Center/Discipline | Liaison |
| College of Community Studies and Public Affairs | School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice | Alec Sonsteby |
| Human Services | Christine Larson | |
| Psychology | Michelle Filkins | |
| MPNA/MAPL | ||
| Social Work | Christine Larson | |
| College of Liberal Arts | School of CWA | Michelle Filkins, Jennifer DeJonghe, Ruth Zietlow (graduate Technical Communications and Theater) |
| Social Sciences | Michelle Desilets | |
| History | Jennifer DeJonghe | |
| Literature & Language Studies | Michelle Filkins | |
| Ethnic & Religious Studies | Christine Larson | |
| Philosophy | Christine Larson | |
| Liberal Studies | Jennifer DeJonghe | |
| Gender Studies | Christine Larson | |
| College of Individualized Studies | Individualized Studies | Alec Sonsteby |
| College of Management | Accounting | Alec Sonsteby |
| Economics and Finance | Michelle Desilets | |
| Management, Human Resource Management |
Michelle Desilets | |
| Entrepreneurship | Ruth Zietlow | |
| Marketing, Business Law, International Business |
Ruth Zietlow | |
| Supply Chain Management | Michelle Desilets | |
| Management Information Systems | Alec Sonsteby | |
| College of Nursing and Health Sciences | School of Nursing | Contact Alec Sonsteby* |
| Dental Hygiene | Contact Alec Sonsteby* | |
| College of Sciences | Information & Computer Science | Alec Sonsteby |
| Applied Mathematics | Alec Sonsteby | |
| Natural Sciences | Jennifer DeJonghe | |
| School of Urban Education | Education | Michelle Filkins |
| Career Services | Career Services | Ruth Zietlow |
| Center for Faculty Development | Center for Faculty Development | Alec Sonsteby |
| Center for Online Learning | Center for Online Learning | Michelle Desilets |
Plagiarism
Librarians offer advice and consultation on handling plagiarism issues. Metropolitan State also subscribe to Turnitin, a software program that helps faculty to identify plagiarism. Please consult this guide for information about setting up an account and learning how to use the software.
Reserves
Physical reserves
Physical reserves are items held in the library for students to use within the building. Supplemental or required articles, books, book chapters, videos, and more can be kept at our library circulation desk for your students to use in the library throughout the semester. You may also choose to put articles and book chapters on e-Reserves, which would make them available online. Please use this request form.
Electronic reserves
Electronic reserves at Metropolitan State allow materials to be accessed online by students if you do not use another online site like D2L. You can put articles and book chapters online for your students to access, use this guide to access instructions and forms. Your students can be directed to the e-Reserves portal linked to on our website homepage, where they will enter the course password you have provided to them. To set up an account, contact our e-Reserves staff.