HIT: Using book images on a web site

[Kerrlita Westrick <kerrlita@COX.NET>]

Here is my original posting:
To All:

I know this question has come up before, but I am still stumped and I am
hoping someone has a definitive answer.  I am the co-chair of the Arizona
Young Reader Award Committee for the Arizona Library Association.  I put
together a web site each year listing the nominated books and links for
lesson plans, author studies, etc.  I asked permission from the local
Follett representative to use the graphics (of the cover of each book) from
Titlewave to post on the web site.  He told me it was not a problem.  Now it
is my understanding (from a colleague) that I need to get permission from
each individual publisher of these books (30) in order to post the graphic
of the cover.  Does anyone know if I may use them or if I need to write each
publisher?  This web site is strictly used to promote the Arizona Young
Reader Award.  If anyone can help, I would appreciate it.  Thank you.

Kerrlita Westrick
Media Specialist
Verrado Middle School
Litchfield Park, AZ
kerrlita@cox.net
*****************
Kerrlita,

This is hardly a definitive answer, but I am taking a children's literature
course through Texas Woman's University. Our professor told us that it was
fine to use book covers on our book review Web pages as long as the source
of the image was credited and the use was educational. She said that she had
consulted with a number of lawyers on the subject.

Hope that helps!
****************
Hi Kerrlita,

I used to do this in Iowa about six years ago.  If I had to do this today I
would forget the images.
It is easy for other people to tell you what they would like you to do, but
getting responses is not that easy.  Sometimes it is nice to get the project
done.  It is not like you have nothing to do with a new library opening.

Iowa has this company handle the posters now.

http://www.iec-ia.org/MediaTech/books/iema/IEMA.html

My problem is that I was trying to do things the way they had been done in
the past.  I would have been better off doing it the way I thought was best.

Other states do like this:

Missouri.
http://www.maslonline.org/awards/books/

Kansas:
http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/

I like the way both do this promotion.  They also have stickers, etc. to put
on the books.

Iowa put a link to the publisher web page.

http://www.iema-ia.org/
*******************
Kerrlita, you should write to each publisher... be sure to give them
complete information, including the length of time that you expect
the cover to be up. Also, state that if you don't hear by a certain
time, you will post the cover since you wouldn't want the nominated
book to be slighted. Just be prepared to pull the cover if permission
is not granted.

If you phrase the request well, I doubt if you'll be refused. How
could a publisher *not* want the free publicity???

You might also post the link here, I'm sure we would love to visit
your site.

My response:
    I asked if I should e-mail or send a letter from the Arizona Library
Association.

Answer:
Probably from you, since you'll have control of the site. Email is
fine. You can probably find who to contact on each website. Look for
Permissions and copyright. Be sure to read whatever is posted. There
may be blanket permission for Library Associations or Awards
committees to do what you want to do. If you find that kind of
permission, write to the person named on the page and express your
gratitude and delight at finding the permission, and let them know
the details. That information goes up the line and everyone is
pleased.

*********************

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