About the Julia Tutwiler Library

Library Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Julia Tutwiler Library is to enhance the teaching, research, and service functions of The University of West Alabama by providing access to information.

In fulfilling this mission, the Library has four distinct functions:   

1. To facilitate and to improve teaching and learning by providing a diversity of information resources and services  
2. To provide resources and services relevant to the intellectual and professional growth of the faculty, staff, and students of The University of West Alabama, as well as the University’s outside clientele  
3. To provide resources and services relevant to general information needs and to the personal interest needs of the University community, including the University’s extended community and
4. To help meet the educational and informational needs of the region which the University serves.

In order to accomplish this mission, the Library strives to reach the following goals:   

1. To acquire a collection of learning resources that meet the needs of the University
2. To organize and manage all units of the Library so that users can effectively access resources and acquire services
3. To create an atmosphere that encourages users to come to the Library, with particular emphasis on providing the user with assistance and instruction in the use of resources
4. To cooperate in the development of local, regional, and state information networks and resources sharing approaches to meeting the educational and informational needs of the region
5. To staff the Library with personnel who are committed to helping the Library fulfill its mission and to reach its goals and objectives
6. To provide opportunities for Library faculty and staff to grow professionally and
7. To promote throughout the University an awareness of resources available in the Library.

Map

Library Policies

Copyright Basics

What is Copyright?

Copyright is:

“A form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.

Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed”.

(copyright.gov)

Copyright Basics

• Copyright Crash Course @ University of Texas Libraries
• Copyright Law & Public Domain – Free Law Resources – Nolo.com Copyright basics with a focus on practical application, including fair use and licensing.
• Copyright: The Crash Course by Paul Royster Quick and dirty overview of copyright by University of Nebraska Coordinator of Scholarly Communication Paul Royster
• Stanford Copyright & Fair Use Center One of the premier sites for information and study aids concerning copyright law. Searchable by keyword. Provided by Stanford University Libraries
• Scholarly Communications Toolkit from Duke Libraries This web site is intended to provide updates about developments in scholarly communications, including the application of copyright law and its exceptions to teaching and research.
• Teaching Copyright The Teaching Copyright curriculum is a detailed, customizable learning plan to help educators raise interesting questions about copyright, technology, and law.
• U. S. Copyright Office The Office’s mission is: “To promote creativity by administering and sustaining an effective national copyright system.”