[ARSCLIST] copyright and music libraries

["Gary R. Boye" <boyegr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

ARCS members with some experience in libraries from the 1980s,

(I've tried this on the Music Library Association list without much 
success, so I thought I'd try it here:) I remember that, sometime when I 
was an undergraduate in the 1980s, music libraries around the country 
began disabling their phonograph/cassette systems so that users could 
not copy records in the library. It was my understanding that this 
procedure helped alleviate liability on the library's part for what 
could be construed as infringement of the record companies' product.

Was this ever stated as a general interpretation of copyright or a 
guideline? Why were libraries doing this??

I thought this would lead to a simple, direct answer; it hasn't to this 
point.

Gary
--
Gary R. Boye, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Music Librarian
Appalachian State University