Books are at the intersection of some of the most essential human freedoms, primarily freedom of expression and freedom to publish. These are fragile freedoms, which is one of the reasons why the United Nationspays a worldwide tribute to books and authors on April 23 each year. World Book & Copyright Day is celebrated in a growing number of countries, and is a great opportunity for us all to reflect on and learn about the significant themes of books as vectors of values and knowledge, books as depositories of our heritage, and books as windows onto the diversity of cultures and as tools for dialogue.
Obviously as a Library we may be a little bit biased, but the CSU Library believes this is a great cause to celebrate, so are sharing some wonders from our collection to get you enthused about books, the history of literature, and the curiosity of copyright legislation:
- Book History is an annual journal devoted to every aspect of the history of the book, broadly defined as the history of the creation, dissemination, and reception of script and print.
- A global history of literature and the environment – In this eBook an international group of scholars illustrate the immense riches of environmental writing from the earliest literary periods through to the present day.
- Contemporary legal issues, Intellectual property: Copyright and all that jazz – This video and its panel of guests cover the background and history of copyright law, and the various rights and limitations relevant to copyrighted materials with a focus on downloading music and movies.
- Partial Answers: Journal of Literature and the history of ideas – An international peer reviewed journal that strives to explore ways in which literary texts can be perceived both as works of art and as testing grounds for ideas.
- From Maimonides to Microsoft: the Jewish law of copyright since the birth of print – this eBook traces the historical development of Jewish copyright law, and explores how some of the earliest copyright rulings address the same issues that animate copyright jurisprudence today: Is copyright a property right or just a right to receive fair compensation?
If you have trouble accessing any of these resources, please contact us at the Library for assistance. If you would like to learn more about copyright legislation and what it means for you at university, please take a look at our Using images at University, and Copyright @ CSU Library guides. Please take some time to enjoy World Book & Copyright day, and think about how books help weave humanity together as a single family, where all voices are heard in the great chorus of human aspiration!