Are public libraries infringing on copyright laws?

I'm not an attorney, but I think public library's exist due to fair use clauses in copyright law.

For more info checkout the following link

http://www.librarylaw.com/Copyright_and_Libraries....

Copyright laws protect against copying. Libraries are not copying books by lending them out.

Google was potentially infringing (it's debatable whether it falls within the fair use doctrine) by making electronic copies of the books for indexing. Even though the users of the system would not have a full copy of the book, the act of scanning and parsing the book to create the index it itself an electronic copy.

Completely different.

possibly. i love libraries, and i believe that society benefits from a free (or reasonably simple and inexpensive) sharing of ideas that libraries enable.

please look at the free culture movement for information on how copyright law has changed in recent decades to change what is clearly allowable under fair use. i am very concerned that we will lose the ability to share ideas and culture as we are doing now if we don't pay attention to the ways the law is being bent.

http://freeculture.org/

No, because they PURCHASE the actual books to be circulated. If they made copies of the book via then virtual world, then it could be a copywrite infringement unless they had the express permission of the author, and I imagine that would likely involve a hefty annual fee with a per use access fee.

Another downside, if you have ever tried to read an on-line e-book (or a legal brief), it that after about the first chapter it your eyes are strained and watery and it is hard to follow. Online access is great for summaries, but for detailed information and stories, we are always going to need actual printed books.

uhh i dont think so.

so whats the problem yo? u got something against soemthin or someone yo??