Usage rights for electronic resources
Why do I need the Usage Rights Database?
Use of all electronic resources subscribed to by the Concordia Library are governed by licensing agreements that restrict use to Concordia students, faculty and staff, for educational or research purposes only. As an authorized Concordia user it is your responsibility to ensure that you always use these resources according to the conditions stipulated in the license agreements (permitted and restricted uses).
The Usage Rights Database is essential for the following reasons:
- Multitude of licenses: Concordia University subscribes to hundreds of full-text databases and packages (journal articles, newspaper articles and e-books). For each of these products, Concordia University signs a license with specific terms of use that allows students, faculty and staff to use the materials in these resources for educational or research purposes only.
- Accurate information: It is not always easy to find out what rights are included in each license, but the Usage Rights Database keeps track of exactly what is permitted under the terms of the licensing agreements.
- License compliance: There can be different rights for the same journal found in different databases/packages. The Usage Rights Database is useful when choosing which articles can be included into course reserves for example. Failure to follow the terms of use in licensing agreements allows publishers to suspend access for the entire Concordia University Community.
- Visibility: The usage rights for our databases/packages is readily accessible and easy to understand.
