This post is by Michael Apfeldorf of the Library of Congress.
The Library of Congress has launched a new self-paced professional development module designed to provide educators with an overview of how copyright relates to their use of primary sources. As with other modules previously released, “Copyright and Primary Sources” plays from a standard web browser and can be completed in one hour or less. A certificate for one hour of professional development is available upon completion.
Teachers using the module will discover what copyright is, learn to identify the rights status of a primary source on the Library’s website, and consider various ways they might use primary sources based on this rights status. Educators will also explore the story of U.S. copyright through history, including its beginnings, key moments, and evolution over time.

In addition to “Copyright and Primary Sources,” the Library offers two more self-paced professional development modules for teachers. “Analyzing Primary Sources” provides an introduction to the foundations of primary source analysis. “Multiple Sources for Multiple Perspectives” applies strategies for analyzing multiple primary sources to examine multiple perspectives.
If you have any questions or comments regarding these professional development resources, please contact the Library at: [email protected].
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