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E-resources - conditions of use

The following provides guidance on what you can and cannot do when using e-resources subscribed to by the University of Warwick. The use of these resources is governed by the terms and conditions of licences, which are legally binding documents agreed with the publisher of each resource.

The terms and conditions of e-resource licences vary slightly between publishers. Please contact the Library if you have a question regarding the use of a specific resource.

All Warwick staff and students should also ensure that they are familiar with the University of Warwick Information Security Policy before using e-resources managed by Library Services.

Who is entitled to use the e-resources?

Most e-resource licences restrict access to the resource to "authorised users". The definition of authorised user varies from licence to licence. The majority of licences define authorised users as:

  • Current students (undergraduates and postgraduates)
  • Members of staff
  • In addition, some licences also allow access to "Walk-in users" (i.e. customers that are permitted access to the Warwick network while they are in the Warwick Library) and these resources are available on a dedicated terminal in the Library

Authorised users are under no circumstances allowed to provide access to the resources to other individuals.

How should the e-resources be used?

The resources are licensed for educational purposes, i.e. teaching and learning (either face to face or distance learning), private study and research.

The resources must not be used for commercial purposes. This includes use for the purpose of monetary reward or by means of the sale or loan of the resource. Research funded by a commercial organisation does not constitute commercial research.

Authorised users can:

  • Save parts of the resource, e.g. journal articles, electronically for personal use
  • Print out single copies of journal articles, etc.
  • Distribute single copies of parts of the resource in print or electronic form to other authorised users
  • Cut and paste parts of material from the resource in teaching materials and coursework providing that it is appropriately acknowledged
  • Include extracts in printed or electronic course packs, e.g. via Sitebuilder or Moodle (the provision of such materials must be through secure authenticated access) providing that it is appropriately acknowledged. Copies of such items must be deleted when they are no longer required.

Authorised users must not:

  • Make the resource available to anyone who is not an authorised user
  • Display any part of the resource on a publicly accessible website or network
  • Make print or electronic copies of multiple extracts
  • Systematically download material, e.g. download a copy of every article in a journal in order to create a local archive
  • Remove, hide or change copyright notices

Breach of licence terms may result in the University being barred from accessing a resource. Disciplinary action may be taken against any customer found to have breached the terms and conditions of a licence.