Shelf sufficiency

The terms of the Copyright Licensing Agency photocopying licence go a long way to improving student access to published works in university libraries. Since April 1998, the short loan collection in particular has benefited from new terms. A photocopy of a chapter from a book in the library holdings can be deposited and on-copied by all students who need a copy. The same applies to a single article from a journal or periodical.

When the book or journal extract is not in the library holdings it can be added by obtaining copyright from the British Library. On-copying by students is then permissible under licence.

Peter Shepherd Chief executive, Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, London W1