[Eril-l] AI and electronic resources

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

This is an interesting question, I hadn't thought about it, but is it
really our responsibility?

I mean if you put up some kind of pop-up that certainly doesn't prevent
them from doing it anyway. And I don't see how you would hit all the places
they could access an article from - for us, once they have signed in to the
system they could access them from LibGuides, Google Scholar, through a
Primo search, Browzine, LibKey Nomad, and probably more places. And for us
if they are already on campus, for the most part they are automatically
authenticated and don't have to sign in.

In theory someone could check out a print book and scan and upload all the
contents from that into an AI platform. That wouldn't be legal either, but
we couldn't really know that they did it or prevent it.

At what point would the liability fall on the student or other user rather
than the library?  Essentially once the user accesses a website they are
agreeing to the terms of that website, so shouldn't the databases post
thost terms - JSTOR has a popup when you download an article that says:
"Your use of JSTOR indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of
Use and the Privacy Policy."

It seems like the best you could do is place a notice somewhere on your
website near the database similar to posting a copyright notice near a copy
machine or scanner saying not to do it.



Susan R. Barber
Electronic Resources Coordinator
Paul and Rosemary Trible Library
Christopher Newport University
sbarber at cnu.edu
757-594-7046


On Fri, Jan 9, 2026 at 1:53 PM Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion
list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> Recently our staff were discussing the legal implications of students
> uploading content from our electronic resources into outside AI platforms.
>  While this violates copyright it will likely also violate our licensing
> agreements with vendors.  Our staff attorney suggested adding a popup box
> that users would need to click to acknowledge that they will not do it
> somewhere on our website for liability purposes.  We use the
> Springshare/Libguide platform for our website and resources.  We know
> that we can’t put a popup or block in all the places online that students
> click through to get to our resources.  How are other libraries managing
> this issue?
>
> Replies on or off list would be appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> Kathleen M. Tobolewski, MLS
> Metadata and E-Resource Management Librarian
> Reeves Memorial Library
> Seton Hill University
> 724-838-2438
> ktobolewski at setonhill.edu
>
>
>
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