Licensing Fundamentals

Building on common licensing terminology, the following resources offer foundational guidance for navigating library licensing by covering detailed workflows, sample language, and practical strategies for libraries and consortia to locally adopt or adapt.

▶️ The Librarians' Guide To Licensing: How To Start Navigating the Complexities, NC LIVE - 2024

• This webinar focuses on licensing workflows and management, including different approaches to electronic resource management (ERM) using homegrown, open source, and proprietary software to support local workflows. 

▶️ Fundamentals of Licensing Electronic Resources, ALCTS - 2018

• Part one of a five-part series, this introductory webinar reviews license agreements and structures, examples of licensing terminology, and suggestions for new librarians working with license agreements. 

▶️ How to Read a Contract, Library Futures - 2024

• A joint webinar with SPARC and Authors Alliance, this webinar shares various tips and expertise to read and negotiate library contracts. It covers key license clauses such as privacy, accessibility, non-disclosure, and more.

📗 Chapter 4: The Joy of Licensing and Contracting for E-Resource Acquisition - Managing Licensed E-Resources: Techniques, Tips, and Practical Advice, edited by Galadriel Chilton - 2022

• This book chapter explores common terminology found in license agreements, potential approaches to modifying language, and an adaptable checklist for potential must-haves, red flags, and deal breakers to consider when reviewing contracts.

📗 E-Resource Licensing Explained: An A-Z Guidebook for Licensing, written by Samberg, Zimmerman, Teremy, Limpitlaw, & Enimil - 2024

• From the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), this guide puts complex legal concepts into simple language for librarians and library professionals without legal training. It details the essentials of the law, desired results and language, and tricks and traps in e-resource licensing. Specifically, this e-book provides guidance and model language for course reserves, interlibrary loan, and scholarly sharing.
  
  

To build off this knowledge and develop localized structures to support your institution's resource acquisition activities, check out the next section of the toolkit: Licensing Resources.