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£49.95 Amazon.co.uk |
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UK ISBN: 1856044386
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Published by Facet Publishing
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Edited by C.J. Armstrong, Laurence W. Bebbington
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Book published October 2003
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Other opinions: |
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Review and customer comments at amazon.co.uk
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Title:
Staying Legal: A Guide to Issues and Practice Affecting the Library, Information and Publishing Sectors
Review:
'Staying Legal' is a no-nonsense, accessible set of essays designed to
provide 'individuals now engaged in information work and the knowledge
industries' with sufficient legal background and understanding to
carry out their professions responsibly and legally.
Starting with a broad overview of how the legal system is constituted,
the book goes on to look in greater detail at areas of particular
relevance to the information industry. These include copyright and
other intellectual property rights; fundamentals of contract law and
its applications in information work; agreements including licenses
and codes of practice; an overview of data protection law; and a look
at criminal law and liability. There is also a useful chapter on legal
resources including those available over the Internet.
A particularly useful section for many people will be the final
chapter 'Staying Legal: from awareness to action' which details a
sobering array of scenarios in which the legal risks highlighted by
the book has led to legal action and resulting awards. The chapter
goes on to review the main categories of legal risk and to consider
means of prioritising and managing those risks.
The book is very clearly laid out, and within the overall structure,
each chapter is divided into short, digestible subsections. In this
second edition, the editors are able to ensure that the book is
brought up to date with changes since it was first published in 1999.
This book is likely to be most useful to individuals who have an
interest in the law and are looking for an accessible introduction to
a broad range of legal areas. As its editors make clear, it is not a
legal handbook. If you are looking for a practical legal guide to the
issues that may confront you on a day-to-day basis, this is not the
book for you. However, if you are interested in finding out more about
the legal principle, which underlie the decisions that you make, this
book provides an excellent introduction. The scope of the book is
broad within the constraints of its 272 pages and it will certainly
assist librarians and information managers who need to develop their
understanding of legal issues in order to negotiate with other
professionals in the sector.
In terms of practical guidance, the sections on public access to legal
information and on assessing and dealing with legal risks are
particularly useful. The emphasis in each case is on engaging actively
with the law and developing strategies for ensuring your organisation
is protected from key legal risks.
If read in the spirit in which it is intended, this book will provide
useful first steps towards understanding what is legal. You will need
to contact your lawyer or find a different book if you need guidance
on the more practical aspects of staying legal.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Shivaji Shiva is a solicitor in the Charity Team at Russell-Cooke
Solicitors. He advises a range of not-for-profit organisations,
including national archives and museums, on issues including
copyright and data protection.
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