Library Resources User Terms

Appropriate Use of Library’s Licensed Electronic Resources

Most of the electronic resources available through the University of South Florida Libraries are governed by license agreements that restrict use to University of South Florida students, faculty, staff, or other authorized users for non-commercial, educational, teaching, and research purposes. Each user is responsible for complying with the terms and conditions of these licenses. Breach of license may lead a publisher/vendor to turn off the library’s access without warning.

Generally, under the USF Libraries’ license agreements for electronic resources,

Users may:
  • View, download, copy, print or save individual articles, chapters or other individual items
  • Use single articles, chapters or other individual items for teaching or research
  • Send a copy of an article to another authorized user (i.e. faculty, students or staff) or research colleagues solely for the purpose of non-commercial scholarly collaboration
  • Post the URL to the publisher’s version of the article on a class website (publisher links will allow only authorized users access)
Users may not:
  • Allow anyone other than authorized users to access the licensed resources (including not sharing passwords)
  • Use licensed resources for commercial purposes
  • Modify or create a derivative work of the licensed resources without the permission of the licensor
  • Remove, obscure or modify any copyright or other proprietary notices included in the licensed resources
  • Systematically download, distribute, or retain substantial portions of information (more information below)
Examples of “excessive” or “systematic” downloading, which is prohibited:
  • Rapidly downloading one article after another
  • Continuously downloading tables of contents, search results, citations, or output
  • Downloading entire issues or volumes of an eJournal
  • Downloading the entire content of an eBook or multimedia resource
  • Using robots, spiders, or other automated programs to systematically download licensed content

Consequences of Inappropriate Use of Licensed Electronic Resources

Electronic resource vendors may monitor use of electronic resources to ensure that the terms of their licensing agreements are enforced. If a serious violation is detected coming from our campus or one of our remote users, vendors reserve the right to immediately suspend access to their electronic resources for the entire campus.

The Library would be notified of the suspension of service and would then investigate the situation, taking steps to ensure that the violation would not happen again. Once the situation is resolved, the service is generally restored.

As such, misuse and disregard for terms and conditions of use puts at risk the Library’s and all other USF users’ continued access to electronic resources.

Violations of restrictions or any other terms of use stipulated by the vendors is a grave offense, and will result in the withdrawal of electronic access rights and the possible imposition of further institutional sanctions.