New Copyright Exemptions for Distance Educators
The Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act
By Carrie Russell

With the passage of a new law on November 2, 2002, eagerly-awaited by educators, teachers can now—in general--use the same types of copyright protected materials in the digital classroom that they would ordinarily use in the physical classroom. However, in order to take advantage of the exemptions, educational institutions must meet specific obligations outlined in the law. This ERIC Digest, written by the copyright specialist for the American Library Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy, outlines both the privileges and the requirements of TEACH.

A New Framework for Teaching in the Cognitive Domain
By Michael Molenda

For beginning lesson designers, this new ERIC Digest briefly describes M. David Merrill’s “First Principles of Instruction,” an important new conceptual framework for the design of lessons aimed primarily at cognitive learning. According to the author of this Digest, this new framework may provide the most comprehensive synthesis of instructional research and theory yet, and it more explicitly reflects the growing consensus that “meaning-making” is at the heart of cognitive learning. Michael Molenda, Associate Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University, Bloomington, is co-author of the widely adopted text, Instructional Media and Technologies for Learning, 7th edition (Prentice-Hall, 2002).

Format Proliferation in Public Libraries
By Norm Parry

Having to choose among the tens of thousands of new works published every year under the constraint of limited finances is not new to librarians; what is unprecedented is the number and kinds of choices librarians must make in response to the greater number of formats demanded by their customers. A list of available formats for a particular work might include hardcover, paperback, large print, foreign languages edition, audiocassette tape, book on CD, eBook, videocassette, and DVD. This new ERIC Digest examines some of the costs and challenges presented by the proliferation of formats and some strategies for addressing those challenges.

Acquiring and Managing Electronic Journals
By Donnelyn Curtis and Paoshan Yue

Electronic journals are both a blessing and a curse for libraries, according to the authors of this new ERIC Digest. Librarians must acquire as many appropriate full text resources as possible, as quickly as possible, and make them easy to use in order to meet users’ ever-increasing demands. Here readers will learn tips for acquiring and providing access to electronic journals through a library’s Web site and online catalog. Includes an excellent list of Web sites and other resources for detailed advice on licensing and technical matters. Donnelyn Curtis, author of Developing and Managing Electronic Journals Collections: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Libraries, is the Director of Research Services and Paoshan Yue is the Electronic Resources Access Librarian at the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries.

Why Should Principals Support School Libraries?
By Gary Hartzell

Beginning with a brief overview of the research which shows that—regardless of student, school and community demographics—quality library media programs enhance student achievement, this new ERIC Digest continues with an examination of how informed, committed school librarians can help principals enhance their own administrative practice as well as practical tips for principals on how they can support school libraries. A well-known advocate of school libraries, the author is a university professor and former high school principal.

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