The text of the interpretation is published in the Intellectual Freedom Manual, ninth edition (2015), part II, chapter 5, and on the ALA website.
Article IV of the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association states: “We respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders.” In response to requests from the library community for ethical guidance on the topic of copyright, and in anticipation of a revised edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual that would include a new section on copyright, the ALA Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE) created this first-ever interpretation of the Code of Ethics.
The statement was developed in consultation with the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) Advisory Committee Copyright Education Subcommittee and the ALA Committee on Legislation Copyright Subcommittee. Carrie Russell, director of the OITP program on public access to information, provided expert advice and guidance. COPE distributed the initial draft to ALA Council members in spring 2014 and solicited comments and suggestions. COPE held a public hearing on the document at the committee’s first business meeting during Annual Conference 2014, considered all comments and suggestions, and approved a final version. The document was presented to the ALA Council on July 1, 2014, and unanimously approved.