Written by a practicing archivist who is also an expert on copyright, An Archivists Guide to Copyright is the essential tool for understanding the copyright challenges that archivists face. Mahers book helps practitioners understand both the risks they can face and how to minimize them. -- Peter B. Hirtle, Senior Intellectual Property Officer emeritus, Cornell University Library Fellow, Society of American Archivists Mahers style and dry humor make this publication about copyright law a pleasure to read, and that is not an easy task to accomplish!Maher is able to explain and distill copyright law, its history, development and complexities, in archivists terms, specifically as they relate to primordial collections stewardship and access issues. Providing access to archival collections may often be dependent upon an archivists ability to assess risk and understand their institutional risk tolerance. Mahers publication provides exceptional guidance in this regard. It is an indispensable resource for the risk assessment tables, alone. -- Rina Elster Pantalony, Senior Advisor, Library Policy & Intellectual Property, UCLA Library, USA From his vast experience, William Maher reveals in this new book one of copyrights most important secrets: It is a body of legal principles, and at the same time its a personality test. Mahers main audience might be the sophisticated professional who confronts the distinct copyright challenges of archives; Maher also deploys a sympathetic approach, assuring readers when it is okay to be mystified and even depressed. He never lets you surrender. Instead, he guides readers toward practical copyright principles and responsible policy standards. Mahers wisdom and rigor will be welcomed by archivists, librarians, and everyone in the scholarly community who operate inescapably within the copyright environment. -- Kenneth D. Crews, Copyright Professor and International Consultant
