Copyright administration in academic libraries: Challenges of library patrons

The application of stricter copyright laws in academic libraries leaves users of reprographic materials at the mercy of rightsholders thereby inhibiting knowledge acquisition and dissemination. This study interrogated the copyright challenges faced by academic library users in Ghana using data from 530 postgraduate students in two private and two public universities. Among the major challenges faced by students were: (i) Digital technology has made it easier to access, reuse and share content (ii) Unintentionally exposing the institution or library to the risk of copyright infringement (iii) Piracy (iv) Undue concerns of authorities about copyright infringement, (v) Publishers and other intermediaries put impediments in the provision of learning resources, (vi) Difficulties in locating the rightsholder to seek permission for the use of material, (vii) Difficulties in supervising content use, (viii) Content is available from many different sources, including the open web, and (ix) Rights licensing are not always straightforward, easy or efficient. The support by some students (i.e., those at the Writing of findings/results or Discussion stage of their thesis writeup as well as fourth-year PhD students) of the commercial interests of publishers may be a positive contribution in promoting copyright compliance in academic libraries.