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Adding Library resources to Canvas

This guide provides information on linking and embedding Library resources in your Canvas course and ensuring copyright compliance.

Copyright advice for learning and teaching

Find how to ensure copyright compliance in your learning and teaching activities at RMIT.


Queries may be directed to Copyright services, email: copyright@rmit.edu.au

Video: Copyright in Canvas

What resources can you use in courses for online delivery?

Copyright in Canvas (4:04 mins), RMIT University Library, Microsoft Stream (RMIT login required)

Use of PDFs

For copyright compliance, PDFs should not be added within Canvas modules. Linking to resources removes any breach of copyright.

If you have problems locating a suitable link for a PDF then contact the Library Online Learning and Teaching team.


Option 1 - Reading List app

If using the Reading List app in Canvas then you may upload the PDF using the 'create' function.

Follow the instructions on How to add readings to a list - Uploading. Drag the PDF into the new record and provide the necessary citation information. The Library will then investigate if the PDF is copyright compliant or if it needs to be replaced with a link.


Option 2 - Permalink

If you are not using the Reading List app then the permalink, or the persistent URL, needs to be found for the material. See more details under the section Tools for linking to resources.

Films, TV and YouTube

YouTube

There is no blanket educational licence that allows the downloading of videos from YouTube or Vimeo. Downloading videos is considered a breach of the sites' Terms of Service.

YouTube, Vimeo, and other video sites can be used as long as the material you wish to use is a copy that has been placed online by the copyright holder. Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or other video sites must be embedded or linked to and not uploaded to Canvas.


Recording broadcast TV programs for students

RMIT University has an educational licence (Screenrights Licence) that allows any program to be recorded from TV or scheduled streamed content within Australia and screened for students for educational purposes. The Licence is not limited to ‘educational titles’ but instead to ‘educational purposes’ being: 

  • Made for teaching purposes including preparation for teaching a class 
  • Made and used as a part of a course and study 
  • Made and retained in the Library for use as a teaching resource 

The Licence also allows recordings of free-to-air broadcasts that have been made available on catch up services such as ABC iView, SBS on Demand, etc., to be recorded via Canvas or a Collaborate Ultra/Echo360. 

Note: Screenrights does not apply to video-on-demand streamed media services such as Netflix and Stan.

So that you don’t have to copy programs off free-to-air TV yourself, the Library subscribes to the databases with Screenrights content from broadcast TV.


Copyright notice

The copyright notice below must be included with any communications of Screenrights video from Canvas.   

A Screenrights notice is built into content from TV News (Informit)EduTV (Informit), and Library Offair video collection 

 WARNING 

This material has been reproduced and communicated to you by or on behalf of RMIT University in accordance with section 113P of the Copyright Act 1968 (Act).  ​ 
The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act.​ 
Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act.​ 

Books, chapters and webpages

Scanned pages from print books

RMIT University is bound by an educational licence with the Copyright Agency that sets out how RMIT staff can use chapters or scanned pages from published works for learning and teaching purposes. The licence requires items are placed into eReserve.

Only one chapter or 10% of the total number of pages in a work, whichever is greater, may be digitised.

Additional pages from a book that exceeds the 10% or one chapter limit will require the permission of the copyright holder. The Permission service team will investigate and request the copyright clearances on your behalf. To request permission, email: permsissions@rmit.edu.au

Option 1 - Reading list app

If using the Reading list app in Canvas then follow the instructions to request digitisation. Ensure all citation information is provided and tag with 'digitise.'

Option 2 - Permalink

If you are not using the Reading list app then the permalink, or the persistent URL, needs to be found for the material. See more details under the section Tools for linking to resources.

Queries may be sent to the eReserve team, email: eReserve.library@rmit.edu.au


Documents and reports from websites

Websites require copyright consideration. The best practice is to provide a link to the webpage where the document is available from - do not link directly to the document (PDF). If using the Reading list app then follow instructions on How to add readings from the internet - Cite It.

If you have problems locating a suitable link for a website document then contact the Library Online Learning and Teaching team.