Background

LYRASIS and Columbia University Libraries’ Copyright Advisory Services are joining forces to pilot a new Virtual Copyright Education Center, including a series of classes on copyright issues and management. It will also include business planning with the goal of developing a sustainable service model and will be the first pilot delivered through the new Research and Innovation division of LYRASIS.

This new program was developed in partnership with Columbia University Libraries as a result of the 2017 LYRASIS Catalyst Fund award to Columbia, funding research into the feasibility of a virtual copyright education center. The Catalyst Fund is the main engine for innovation and new ideas and a membership benefit of the Leaders Circle. For those who are new to the process, each year LYRASIS earmarks funds to award to member institutions who submit ideas and proposals during our Catalyst Fund application period. The Leaders Circle then vets and votes on the projects and ideas that are most scalable and valuable to the wider community. We are excited that the Virtual Copyright Education Center has matured to the pilot phase of our innovation pipeline.
 
Highlights of the new partnership between LYRASIS and Columbia University Libraries Copyright Advisory Services include:

• Five (5) new online copyright education classes to be available through LYRASIS Learning;
• A basic copyright course will be made free of charge and distributed publicly;
• Advanced classes will be distributed through LYRASIS Learning, the LYRASIS online continuing education platform for libraries and knowledge professionals worldwide; and
• LYRASIS will work with an advisory group of world-class experts to guide the pedagogy and business planning.