Many Children's Book COVID-19 Publisher Permissions Extended

Image by Comfreak from Pixabay 

Many of us are aware of publisher permissions that were relaxed at the beginning of the pandemic to allow youth library staff to share copyrighted material on virtual platforms. Many of these permissions were due to expire on June 30.  However some publishers have extended those permissions further into the summer.

The following publishers are involved in extending their permissions:

• Boyds Mills & Kane – through September 7: boydsmillsandkane.com/permissions2020/
• Candlewick Press – no stated expiration: www.candlewick.com/covid-19.asp
• Cherry Lake/Sleeping Bear – through August 31: cherrylakepublishing.com/recording_guidelines
• Cottage Door Press – no stated expiration: cottagedoorpress.com/pages/rights-and-activities
• HarperCollins – through September 9: d1xcdyhu7q1ws8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/06/09172315/Online-Reading-HCC-Policy-Update-June2020.pdf
• Holiday House – no stated expiration: holidayhouse.com/holiday-house-resources/
• Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt- through August 31: https://www.hmhbooks.com/readaloud?fbclid=IwAR29hJbH9-bqO8md3qFcQNG4R66Amj2z1I4Rk--SHXcVDPeJ96OKtIUQ2MQ
• Little Brown - through September 4; https://www.lbyr.com/little-brown-young-readers/lbyr-blog/lbyr-book-sharing-permission-statement/
• Macmillan – through August 31: us.macmillan.com/macmillan-content-use-guidelines/
• Penguin Random House – no stated expiration: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7MikpcLAVZEdo_tOD-p_9lE9fUpTG9c3_nzGL19oe9s_nBw/viewform
• Simon & Schuster – through August 31: www.simonandschuster.com/p/online-read-aloud-guidelines

A big thanks to our DPI state youth consultant Tessa Michaelson Schmidt for the heads up on this!

School Library Journal also continues to update their SLJ COVID-19 Publisher Information google doc as they hear from publishers about permissions. This invaluable resource contains each publisher's information and requirements for their limited-term permissions.

You can read more about fair use, citing publishers, authors and illustrators when using their books in virtual programs and more in the Copyright Considerations section of ALSC's new (and free) Virtual Storytime Services Guide published this month. You can also access the previous blog posts listed below for further information on these subjects and blog post guidance on doing virtual storytimes.

Permissions (Books, Authors and Music) YSS COVID-19 series:

• Many Children’s Books COVID-19 Publisher Permissions Extended  6/24/20
• Virtual Storytime – Tips on Fair Use & Kids’ Privacy 5/4/20
• Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors 3/22/20; updated 4/23/20
•  Music Permissions? Look No Further  3/27/20; updated 3/31/20

Virtual Storytimes YSS blog COVID-19 series:

• Online Storytime Creation Tools  11/18/20
• Flipgard, Fanfare and Friends: Celebrity Storytime  9/21/20
• ALSC Virtual Storytime Guide is Out!  6/11/20
• Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes  5/27/20
• “How to Do a Virtual Storytime” Webinars 4/13/20
• Tips on Doing Online Storytimes During COVID-19 Closures 3/16/20; updated 3/20/20
• Storytime Goes Digital 3/20/20
• Digital Storytimes- You Do You! 3/31/20
• Digital Storytime, Screen Time and Intentionality – Oh My 4/6/20
• Facebook Live Online Storytime Tips 3/24/20
• Fixing "My Book is Backwards in Online Storytime!" on iPhone 3/22/20

"Creating Community Fun" Programs - Going the Extra Mile

Today's guest post is from Children's Librarian Annette Miller at the Tomohawk (WI) Public Library 

I want to share how reaching out and making connections can lead to something a little extra-special.  

I had been struggling with how to provide programming during the pandemic and library closure and wanted to be sure about how to move forward before just jumping into a virtual storytime just for the sake of doing so.  I really miss the kids and families and I wanted to find a way to connect with them and provide an activity, but not just virtually.  

In late April,  I came across a Facebook post (in Storytime Underground) by Tanya Savitsky of the Ringtown Area (PA) Library.  She had placed "green sheep" all around her community because she loves the book "Where is Green Sheep?" by Mem Fox. She wanted to give the families something to do during this time.  I loved the idea but want to develop it a bit more.  I emailed her to ask a few questions She was so excited that her program had made its way to northern Wisconsin!  

I decided that I would choose a book to read on Facebook live and then add the non-virtual component of placing something out in the community to look for after the story.  I chose the book "Dragon was Terrible" by Kelly DiPucchio and Greg Pizzoli.  It's such a fun book and a wonderful tie-in with the summer library theme, too.  This program will be kind of a kick-off to our summer program.  

Next, I wanted to be sure I wasn't doing something illegal, so I just thought I would email Kelly DiPucchio to ask her permission to use the book and make copies of the dragon and see what happened.  She emailed me back right away and was so excited and so kind!  She also told me that she felt there wouldn't be an issue with the publisher because of the changes that have taken place during this time. Her only request was that I contact the illustrator, Greg Pizzoli.  After all, he did create the dragon.  

Well, he was just as excited and just as kind!  They both want me to share pictures after the event!  Now that I had those connections made, I went to City Hall to be sure there were no ordinances against putting the dragons out.  I want to place them primarily on city property where families can easily walk to find them and to promote these areas of the city as well.  They were fine with it (one will be placed near City Hall of course!).  

The final connection was when I shared the story on Facebook live and invited families or anyone who wants to go out and search for the dragons.  I am encouraging them to share pictures to our Facebook page.  In all these years (18 today!) I have never thought to email an author to simply ask a question.  It's just a great example of what reaching out can do and what connections will be created as a result.  We'll see what happens next week!  Like I said at the beginning, the reason I wanted to share this is because I hope it will inspire others to take a chance and reach out!

Creating Community Fun YSS blog COVID-19 series

• Mini-Golf Reader’s Cup  9/25/21
• Beep! Beep! Honk if you have Bingo!    9/1/21
• Letters to Guinea Pigs  8/18/21
• Stuffed Animal Fun for Everyone  7/13/21
• Pet Show and Tell  4/17/21
• Campfire Storywalk 3/10/21
• Outdoor Storytimes 1/17/20
• Family Trivia Night  10/7/20
• Flipgard, Fanfare and Friends: River Falls Celebrity Storytime  9/21/20
• Tie Dye Masks  8/24/20
• Summer Book Picnics  7/13/20
• Engaging Kids Outdoors  7/10/20
• Downtown Story Stroll    6/5/20
• Book nCover Double  6/8/20
• Going the Extra Mile 6/15/20 
• Summer Storyteller     6/16/20

Virtual Storytime - Tips on Fair Use & Kids' Privacy

As we explore and plan our online programming content, ALSC (the Association for Library Service to Children) has shared two blog posts to help us navigate two big issues. Much of this content sprung from work being done on the ALSC Virtual Storytime Services Guide. The entire guide, featuring sections on Best Practices; Technology Tools; Servicing Diverse Families; Online Programming Ideas; Promotion; and other Online Resources, will be available for free later this month on the ALSC website.

Pausing to Talk About Copyright and Virtual Storytimes
In this brief excerpt from the forthcoming ALSC Virtual Storytime Services Guide, fair use and copyright are explored - both during the pandemic and during non-pandemic times.

Virtual Programming and Patron Privacy
Based on an interview with Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, shares key thoughts for libraries to consider dealing with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) and the use of different platforms.

Permissions (Books, Authors and Music) YSS COVID-19 series:

• Many Children’s Books COVID-19 Publisher Permissions Extended  6/24/20
• Virtual Storytime – Tips on Fair Use & Kids’ Privacy 5/4/20
• Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors 3/22/20; updated 4/23/20
•  Music Permissions? Look No Further  3/27/20; updated 3/31/20

Virtual Storytimes YSS blog COVID-19 series:

• Online Storytime Creation Tools  11/18/20
• Flipgard, Fanfare and Friends: Celebrity Storytime  9/21/20
• ALSC Virtual Storytime Guide is Out!  6/11/20
• Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes  5/27/20
• “How to Do a Virtual Storytime” Webinars 4/13/20
• Tips on Doing Online Storytimes During COVID-19 Closures 3/16/20; updated 3/20/20
• Storytime Goes Digital 3/20/20
• Digital Storytimes- You Do You! 3/31/20
• Digital Storytime, Screen Time and Intentionality – Oh My 4/6/20
• Facebook Live Online Storytime Tips 3/24/20
• Fixing "My Book is Backwards in Online Storytime!" on iPhone 3/22/20

Music Permissions? Look No Further

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

There has been alot of confusion around music permissions for online storytimes. What can be shared? Are musicians and media companies granting the kinds of limited permissions that book publishers are?

As in all questions that have popped up over the past two weeks, someone is working on that!

The someones in this case are CLEL (CO Libraries for Early Literacy) and specifically Jessica Frederickson. The group reached out to a host of musicians and gotten many permissions. But more than that they have written a clear and helpful blog post about it all. Thanks Jessica!

And for those who are interested in finding what children's songs you can sing that are in the public domain, don't forget this great doc from the Public Domain Information Project.

[Update 3/31/20 - also this earlier YSS blog post has publisher and author permissions and the latest on fair use]

Permissions (Books, Authors and Music) YSS COVID-19 series:

• Many Children’s Books COVID-19 Publisher Permissions Extended  6/24/20
• Virtual Storytime – Tips on Fair Use & Kids’ Privacy 5/4/20
• Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors 3/22/20; updated 4/23/20
•  Music Permissions? Look No Further  3/27/20; updated 3/31/20

Virtual Storytimes YSS blog COVID-19 series:

• Online Storytime Creation Tools  11/18/20
• Flipgard, Fanfare and Friends: Celebrity Storytime  9/21/20
• ALSC Virtual Storytime Guide is Out!  6/11/20
• Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes  5/27/20
• “How to Do a Virtual Storytime” Webinars 4/13/20
• Tips on Doing Online Storytimes During COVID-19 Closures 3/16/20; updated 3/20/20
• Storytime Goes Digital 3/20/20
• Digital Storytimes- You Do You! 3/31/20
• Digital Storytime, Screen Time and Intentionality – Oh My 4/6/20
• Facebook Live Online Storytime Tips 3/24/20
• Fixing "My Book is Backwards in Online Storytime!" on iPhone 3/22/20

Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors

Pixabay image

[Updated 4/23/20]
Publisher and author permissions as well as information about fair use in using books in online programs has been updating fast and furiously.

So far, the best go-to resources I've seen are:

• This Google Doc curated by Leah Langby, Library Development and Youth Services Consultant at the IFLS Library System in WI with information and links on copyright and information on public domain.

• School Library Journal has a constantly updated easy to read list of permissions from all publishers and adds to this link as news comes in.

• Jennifer Scott Brown's brilliant google doc for the COVID-19 crisis with author permissions and much much more.

• Read Aloud Canadian Books Program - a one stop website created by the Association of Canadian Publishers to help find access to publisher permissions and guidelines.

• Music Permissions work for streaming storytimes from CLEL (CO Libraries for Early Literacy).

• Publisher Permissions List provides a link to the website of the larger publishers with specific guidelines platforms, availability length, and how to provide credit.

There is also an excellent article Fair Use and Exigent Circumstances by Kyle Courtney, librarian/lawyer/copyright guy in his COVID-19, Copyright Library Superpowers series and this fair use in a crisis article in SLJ

ALA's Carrie Russell, copyright specialist in ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy Office weighs in in this blog post from ALA's Programming Librarian: "Online Storytime & Corona Virus: It's Fair Use, Folks". Do read the whole article. It does not promote unlimited fair use but speaks specifically to what we are going through.

Reading Aloud: Fair Use Enables Translating Classroom Practices to Online Learning 

A group of copyright leaders examine fair use in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; includes webinar link.

Word is out that there is a small group from CO's CLEL and ALSC working on a doc of best practices for virtual storytime including music permissions. Stay tuned....

Permissions (Books, Authors and Music) YSS COVID-19 series:

• Many Children’s Books COVID-19 Publisher Permissions Extended  6/24/20
• Virtual Storytime – Tips on Fair Use & Kids’ Privacy 5/4/20
• Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors 3/22/20; updated 4/23/20
•  Music Permissions? Look No Further  3/27/20; updated 3/31/20

Virtual Storytimes YSS blog COVID-19 series:

• Online Storytime Creation Tools  11/18/20
• Flipgard, Fanfare and Friends: Celebrity Storytime  9/21/20
• ALSC Virtual Storytime Guide is Out!  6/11/20
• Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes  5/27/20
• “How to Do a Virtual Storytime” Webinars 4/13/20
• Tips on Doing Online Storytimes During COVID-19 Closures 3/16/20; updated 3/20/20
• Storytime Goes Digital 3/20/20
• Digital Storytimes- You Do You! 3/31/20
• Digital Storytime, Screen Time and Intentionality – Oh My 4/6/20
• Facebook Live Online Storytime Tips 3/24/20
• Fixing "My Book is Backwards in Online Storytime!" on iPhone 3/22/20

Feeling Creative? More Online Library Program Resources for You & Families

ONLINE AUTHOR/ILLUSTATOR PROGRAMS/READ-ALOUDS

Another shout-out to  Librarian Bookends Present: #UnitedByBooksCOVID19 - Brilliant Book Resources (Twitter: @lbookends) and their padlet that gathers many online resources for authors online reading and publisher permissions

Tumblebooks is making their online ebook, math and other library content free until Augist 2020. Contact them directly at info@tumbebooks.com

NEW TO HOMESCHOOLING?

Practical tips for parents who are newly homeschooling their children during COVID-19 from a veteran homeschooler

Brooklyn Public Library has a great page for families with support, tips and learning links during COVID-19. 

PERMISSIONS

Macmillan has released online permission sharing  policy of their author's/illustrators content

Curated google doc with current author and publisher permissions for online readalouds

Fair Use and Exigent Circumstances 3/11/20 blog post from Kyle Courtney, lawyer/librarian in his COVID-19, Copyright Library Superpowers series to help guide you in your thinking.

Links to YSS COVID-19 series:

Online Storytimes

Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes  5/27/20

Virtual Storytime – Tips on Fair Use & Kids’ Privacy 5/4/20

“How to Do a Virtual Storytime” Webinars 4/13/20

Tips on Doing Online Storytimes During COVID-19 Closures 3/16/20; updated 3/20/20

Storytime Goes Digital 3/20/20

Digital Storytimes- You Do You! 3/31/20

Digital Storytime, Screen Time and Intentionality – Oh My 4/6/20

Facebook Live Online Storytime Tips 3/24/20

Fixing "My Book is Backwards in Online Storytime!" on iPhone 3/22/20

SLP & Programming Resources

Summer Scavenger Hunt Fun 5/30/20

Digital Escape Rooms – the Holy Grail  5/26/20

SLP Virtual and Offline Program Ideas for Teens/Tweens  5/22/20

Virtual and Offline Programs for Summer and Beyond  5/6/20

“Grab-&-Go” Activity Kit Ideas  5/5/20

DIY Family Activities for SLP from CSLP 5/1/20

Offline and Feeling Fine: Ideas for Programming Unvirtually  4/29/20

Virtual Programming & SLP Ideas for YOU! 4/25/20

Beyond E-Storytimes: Virtual Services and Programs for Youth 4/22/20

Using Premier for Virtual Programming on Facebook 3/24/20

Re-Opening and Safety Issues

We’re Re-opening – Coping with Reluctant Patrons and Programming 6/1/20

We’re Re-Opening – Cleaning and Disinfecting Youth Areas  5/13/20

COVID-19 and Libraries: Your Questions Answered with Dr. Dipesh Navsaria 5/19/20

Permissions (Books, Authors and Music)

Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors 3/22/20; updated 4/23/20

      Music Permissions? Look No Further  3/27/20; updated 3/31/20

Professional Development

Webinar - Summer Learning Through Our Public Libraries in a Time of COVID-19  5/18/20

Confronting Xenophobia and Supporting Asian and Asian/Pacific Communities Webinar 4/21/20

Working From Home During COVID-19 4/19/20

Need to Keep Up? Free Online Professional Development  3/21/20

Webinar -Remote and Online Services & Resources for Youth Librarians  3/25/20

Free Children’s/Teen Professional Journal Access 3/28/20

Creating Accessibility in Your Online Programming 4/15/20; updated 4/23/20

Kids Resources

Curated List of Free COVID-19 EBooks for Kids 4/27/20

Infographic to Help Parents with Tech Time During COVID-19 4/2/20

Tips on Safe and Inclusive Gaming/Livestreaming for Families 4/6/20

Talking to Kids About COVID-19  3/28/20

Ear Ticklin’ Listening/Viewing for Kids at Home 3/30/20

WI Online Program Data

Data Collection for Virtual Programs 3/17/20

More Info on Data Collection for Virtual Programs 3/19/20

Friday FAQs with Tessa Michaelson Schmidt

4/10/20 recording       4/17/20 recording          4/24/20 recording        5/1/20 recording               5/8/20 recording

5/15/20 recording       5/22/20 recording; 5/29/20 recording

Taking Care of You 

Human Connections in a Time of Pandemic  3/27/20

Feeling Stress? Keeping Calm in a Difficult Time 3/21/20