E-Resources Usage Guidelines
We contract with a variety of vendors and publishers to provide access to thousands of electronic resources, including databases, abstracting and indexing services, e-journals, e-books, and streaming media.
We typically negotiate license agreements that stipulate how and by whom they may be used. If license terms are violated by anyone, licensors usually have the right to temporarily suspend access for the entire university community. In some cases, licenses can be permanently revoked.
Most license terms limit access to current Sonoma State students, faculty, and staff. Community users may be able to access resources when using library computers, though not all resources are available to non-SSU patrons. E-resources are generally not available to alumni unless accessed via a library computer.
You can help prevent problems with our electronic resource providers by avoiding improper use. Here are some good rules of thumb:
| USUALLY OK | USUALLY NOT OK |
|---|---|
| making limited print or electronic copies (such as a copy of a single article) | systematic or substantial printing, copying or downloading (such as entire journal issues or books) |
| using for personal, instructional, or research needs | selling, re-distributing, or republishing content, or providing it to an employer |
| sharing with SSU faculty, staff, and students | sharing with people other than SSU faculty, staff, and students |
| posting links to specific content | posting PDFs or copies of articles to websites, listservs, social media, or Canvas pages |
It's important to acknowledge your sources when using any published or unpublished digital document or any data found within digital resources. Citing your sources will protect you against accusations of plagiarism and will help your readers understand the ideas and research that informed your thinking.
COPYRIGHT POLICY: Copyright law protects all electronic materials unless there is a specific statement attached to the materials stating that they are in the public domain or are covered by a Creative Commons or other open license. If you have any questions about copyright or fair use, please email premo@sonoma.edu
GREY AREAS: Some resources allow for inclusion in electronic reserves and course packs, and copies for classroom use and interlibrary lending. Others explicitly forbid one or more of these activities. When possible, restrictive license terms will be noted in OneSearch. If you have questions about a particular resource, please send an e-mail to laura.krier@sonoma.edu.