Publisher Copyright Permissions
Navigating Read Alouds and Copyright Issues
There are many publishers who have granted permission for virtual read-aloud due to school closures during COVID-19. But it can get kind of confusing because there are lots of small publishing companies related to parent publishing companies (or distributing companies). If you don't find your company listed below, check out this spreadsheet created and being maintained by another librarian---it is a list of nearly 150 children's publishing companies and who you would refer to as their parent company.
While this is all uncharted territory for us, please be mindful that with everything we do in this time, we are setting precedent for how we approach e-learning in the future. Let's be careful to follow protocol as best as we can and set good habits from the beginning! Please think about modeling for your students what you would expect in any other "normal" time that they will participate in e-learning experiences.
I will be doing my best to update this list as more publishers grant permission. However, if you do not see your publishing company below, you might want to check the list being maintained by School Library Journal. You can also send a request directly to the company.
Abrams Children's Books
ABRAMS is eager to support and encourage the creative efforts of educators and others who are providing remote learning in this environment. We would be happy if you chose one or more of our books to read online to your students and participants. We ask that you follow these guidelines when doing so:
- Please note at the beginning of the video that you are reading with permission of Abrams Children’s Books, and please note the title, author, and illustrator of the book.
- Please only post your video through your school’s private platform or through another group or platform with limited access for your students only.
- Please delete your video or disable access by June 30, 2020.
- Please send an email to permissions@abramsbooks.com with your name, school, city, state, the title and author/illustrator of the book(s) you would like to read online, as well as a follow-up email with a link to your video once you’ve read it.
- By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above guidelines.
Booksellers and librarians who are doing similar readings and/or live events should also follow the above guidelines.
Please note: Any bookseller or librarian event may not be maintained in the archive of the social media platform used.
Any other organization or charity that is interested in doing online reading of our books should contact us at permissions@abramsbooks.com .
Thank you for all you are doing. And please tag @abramskids in any Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook posts affiliated with your readings so we can see your efforts in action!
Harper Collins
If you are an author who would like to do a recorded or live reading of your HarperCollins Children’s book:
We are granting you permission to read your HarperCollins Children’s Books titles online through the end of the school year. These virtual readings may be streamed live via digital platforms, or if recorded, posted in closed educational platforms. If a closed platform is unavailable, recorded videos of readings may be uploaded to YouTube as long as they are marked “Unlisted”. We ask that you work with your editorial and marketing contact so we can amplify appropriately. This permission grant is to best serve the community of readers out there who need us right now.
If you are an author who has received a request from a teacher or librarian to read your HarperCollins Children’s book online:
We are extending the ability to our authors and illustrators to grant permission to educators and librarians to read their HarperCollins Children’s Books titles online through the end of the school year. These virtual readings may be streamed live via digital platforms, or if recorded, posted in closed educational platforms. If a closed platform is unavailable, recorded videos of readings may be uploaded to YouTube as long as they are marked “Unlisted”. We ask that you ask the requestor to do the following, as conditions of this grant of permission:
1. At the beginning of the reading, state it is “with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books”.
2. Send their name, school or library, city and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book they intend to read online to ChildrensPermissions@HARPERCOLLINS.com.
3. Delete uploaded videos or, in the event the applicable platform does not permit deletion, disable access to uploaded videos, by the end of the local school year.
If you are an educator or librarian who would like to read a HarperCollins Children’s book online:
We are granting permission to educators and librarians to read HarperCollins Children’s Books titles online, on video, through the end of the school year. These virtual readings may be streamed live via digital platforms, or if recorded, posted to closed educational platforms. If a closed platform is unavailable, recorded videos of readings may be uploaded to YouTube as long as they are marked “Unlisted”. We ask that any educators or librarians performing or posting readings please do the following, as conditions of this grant of permission:
1. At the beginning of the reading, state it is “with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books”.
2. Send their name, school or library, city and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book they intend to read online to ChildrensPermissions@HARPERCOLLINS.com.
3. Delete uploaded or archived videos or, in the event the applicable platform does not permit deletion, disable access to uploaded videos, by the end of the local school year.
This permission grant is to best serve the community of readers out there who need us right now.
If you are a bookseller who would like to stream a live online reading of a HarperCollins Children’s book:
We are granting permission to booksellers to stream live readings of HarperCollins Children’s Books titles online through the end of the school year. For clarity, we are not granting booksellers permission to post recorded readings of our titles online. We ask that any booksellers performing live readings please do the following, as conditions of this grant of permission:
1. At the beginning of the reading, state it is “with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books”.
2. Send their name, city and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book they intend to read online to ChildrensPermissions@HARPERCOLLINS.com.
3. Delete any archival copies of the reading that the applicable digital platform may have stored.
Holiday House
We are thrilled for you to share our books with young readers, but we do need your help to protect our creators’ copyrights. We can permit the creation of virtual read-alouds at no charge within a closed platform for non-commercial use only, and as long as the video is removed after a limited time (30 days), and you acknowledge the author/artist and Holiday House. We cannot grant permission for these videos to be posted publicly to YouTube at this time.
Holiday House Terms:
- At the beginning of your video, please state that you are reading “with permission from Holiday House Publishing.”
- Post your reading within a closed platform or group for your members only, not for commercial use.
- Please delete your video within thirty (30) days from date of posting.
- Send an email to rights@holidayhouse.com with your name, school or library, city and state, the title and author/illustrator of the book you will read online, and what platform you plan to host the reading on.
By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above terms.
We would also love to follow along with your read-aloud, so please tag us @HolidayHouseBks on social media in any posts affiliated with it!
Thank you!
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
The Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books and Media group is dedicated to supporting our reading community as we navigate this challenging landscape together. We know stories have the power to connect people, bring joy, and create learning moments, and we are inspired in particular by the educators and librarians who are sharing virtual story time and read-aloud opportunities with young people.
To help solve for some of the challenges teachers and librarians are facing due to facility closures and travel restrictions, HMH is granting an open permission to those individuals who would like to use our books to engage their students and community remotely. We are grateful for these talented educators who are keeping children’s spirits up and creating space to celebrate reading during a time of uncertainty.
Our partners at HMH’s K-12 education group are working directly with schools and districts to meet the challenges around delivering curriculum and accessing our programs and resources in a variety of formats and forms to accommodate remote learning. You can learn more about this at www.hmhco.com/coronavirus .
Our titles include books published under the following imprints: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Mariner, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, Versify and Clarion Books.
As educators and librarians, you may use any HMH title in the following ways until June 30, 2020:
- Perform a video or audio live-stream read-aloud of any HMH title including through public or private platforms such as offered by Facebook, Zoom, or the like. Video livestreams may include displaying the picture book as part of the reading.
- Post a video or audio recording of a teacher or librarian reading any HMH title through a private platform. Videos may include a video capture of the picture book as it is being read.
- If you or your students and patrons do not have ready access to a livestream or private platform, then you may use a public platform like YouTube. Please take the additional step to make the settings non-public (e.g., “private” or “unlisted” so you can share the link with your intended audience).
We would like to hear from you about what titles you have chosen to read using this permission. Please email readaloud@hmhco.com to tell us which titles and the authors/illustrators. To be clear, if you follow these guidelines, you don’t need to ask for separate written permission from HMH. But if you have questions, you can also direct questions to that email address.
We do ask that after this limited permission expires on June 30, 2020, you delete or disable access to all videos or recordings of HMH titles, including those posted to any public or private platforms.
Lee and Low
During this critical time, we realize the absolute importance of continued learning in ways that do not put our students at risk. Normally there are companies licensed to professionally produce audio and video recordings of our titles; under the current circumstances, time does not permit professional production to take place.
For this reason, Lee & Low is granting permission to allow educators to do a virtual recording or videotaping of our titles for non-commercial purposes only. Here are our guidelines for reading Lee & Low titles online during this time:
• Please note at the beginning of your recording that you are reading with permission from Lee & Low Books.
• Recordings should only be posted/shared on closed platforms such as a private YouTube channel or password-protected school platform.
• Story time or read-aloud events featuring our books may be streamed live through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Live. However, please make sure recordings of these events do not remain in your archives for more than 24 hours after the event has concluded.
• Please tag @LEEandLOW when discussing any recordings featuring our books on social media
• Reporting: Please use this form to notify us when you post a stream or recording using our books.
By posting a reading, you agree to the above terms which are in effect until June 30, 2020. For any additional questions, please email hehrlich[at]leeandlow.com
Lerner
Lerner is committed to our authors and illustrators as well as the readers who enjoy their books. We want to help protect the hard work and creativity of our contributors while supporting schools and libraries in this difficult time.
To that end, we are granting a temporary license to educators and librarians who would like to use our books to support their students and patrons via distance learning and remote access with the following stipulations:
· A one-time, non-dramatic reading of the book, for educational and non-commercial purposes only
· The reading shall not be publicly shared/broadcast on Youtube/Facebook or other social media platforms, unless posted “Unlisted” (not “Public”), and shall not be used as a means to generate income via advertising or any other fee
· The reading shall be removed from all formats, including live videos that have been archived, by June 30, 2020
· Please begin the video or recording with a statement that you are reading with permission of Lerner Publishing Group
· The following imprints are covered by this agreement: Carolrhoda Books, Carolrhoda Lab, Darby Creek, ediciones Lerner, First Avenue Editions, Graphic Universe, Kar-Ben Publishing, Lerner Classroom, Lerner Digital, Lerner Publications, Millbrook Press, Twenty-First Century Books, Zest Books. Imprints or publishers listed in our catalog but not listed above are NOT COVERED by this license and permission must be sought directly.
· With all readings, you must include the following notice: Displayed with the permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. “Title” by Author, illustrated by Illustrator. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
- Please fill out this form within 10 days to alert us of your use: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1z_bHMG-08gxzZC3eBgui9FwP66KAnQcxTlxviB464co/edit?usp=forms_home&ths=true
Please email permissions@lernerbooks.com with any questions.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
With the rapid increase of school closures and many schools transitioning to remote learning, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has received numerous requests from teachers across the country asking for permission to post readings of books online for their students to access. We are in awe of your efforts to adapt to the changing needs of your students, and we want to support you. We ask that if you read an LBYR book online to your students that you follow a few short guidelines:
· Please note at the onset of the video that you are reading with permission from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
· Please only post your video through your school’s private platform or through another closed group or platform with limited access for only your students.
· Please delete your video or disable access within 30 days.
· Please send your name, school, city, and state, as well as the title and author/illustrator of the book(s)you intend to read online to childrenspublicity@hbgusa.com .
· By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above terms.
Please tag our social media handles in any posts affiliated with your readings—we’d love to see them!
- Twitter: @lbschool
- Facebook: @littlebrownschool
- Instagram: @littlebrownyoungreaders
Thank you for all of your incredible work to support students and families during an uncertain time.
MacMillan
With many schools around the country closed, and more closing daily, Macmillan wants to support teachers, librarians and parents as they work to keep their students and children engaged with reading and learning via virtual classrooms and other forms of remote learning.
Using Our Content in Media
During this emergency and when their schools are closed, we have no objection to (1) teachers and librarians live streaming or posting videos reading our children’s books to their students, provided it is done on a noncommercial basis, and (2) authors live streaming or posting videos reading their children’s books, provided it is done on a noncommercial basis.
Reporting
We ask that all educators, librarians and booksellers please notify us via email (addressed to press.inquiries@macmillan.com ) when you post or stream a story time or read-aloud video or live event, providing the following information:
- Name and address of the library, school, or store
- Title, author and ISBN of the book that is read
- Contact information for the individual responsible for the reading
- The educational or social media platform on which the video or live event is posted or held and a link to that video or live event
Penguin Random House
In order to encourage reading and classroom read-aloud experiences, and to support schools and public libraries forced to close by the escalating COVID-19 outbreak, Penguin Random House is permitting teachers, librarians and booksellers to create and share story time and read-aloud videos and live events, according to the following guidelines:
For Teachers and Educators providing distance learning to students in a virtual classroom setting:
- Story time or classroom read-aloud videos in which a Penguin Random House book is read aloud and the book is displayed (for picture books) may be created and posted to closed educational platforms such as Google Classroom, Schoology, Edmodo and Discovery Education, in order to replicate the read-aloud book experience that would otherwise be available to educators in the classroom.
- If a Teacher or Educator plans to share a story time video by recording a video, uploading it to a YouTube channel, and posting a link to that YouTube video inside a closed educational platform, that YouTube video must be designated as “Unlisted” (not “Public”) when uploading. See screenshot for how to choose “Unlisted” while uploading on YouTube.
- These story time and classroom read-aloud videos may be hosted on the educational platform and/or YouTube (as an “Unlisted” file) until the end of the current school year, after which we request that they be removed from the educational platform and/or from YouTube, unless this permission is extended for the next school semester.
For Booksellers and Librarians who wish to provide a story time reading or other read-aloud experience to young people who would otherwise visit the library or bookstore in person:
- Story time or read-aloud live events in which a Penguin Random House book is read out loud and the book is displayed (for picture books) may be streamed live, in real time, on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitter, and Instagram.
- These story time or read-aloud live events may not be maintained in the archive of the social media platform and appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that videos of the live events are not retained. Because these platforms automatically archive live events by default, when your event has concluded, please locate the recorded live video in your account (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and delete it. See screenshot for how to delete a live video from YouTube after it has concluded.
Reporting requirements – We ask that all educators, librarians and booksellers please notify us via email (addressed to StoryTimeTempPermission@penguinrandomhouse.com) when you post or stream a story time or read-aloud video or live event, providing the following information:
- Name and address of the library, school, or store
- Title, author and ISBN of the book that is read
- Contact information for the individual responsible for the reading
- The educational or social media platform on which the video or live event is posted or held and a link to that video or live event
Scholastic
These are challenging times for all of us and we are particularly sensitive to the needs of children to continue their learning and to reap the many benefits that literature brings them. We at Scholastic are in full support of providing a wide range of online learning activities for kids during this time of school closures.
We have been moved by the numerous requests we’ve received from teachers across the country who are trying to address these needs by posting readings of books online for students to access. We want to support you in your efforts and ask that if you choose to read your book online to your students you follow these guidelines:
1. At the beginning of your video, please state that you are presenting your reading “with permission from Scholastic.”
2. Our preference is that you post your reading through your school's platform or another closed group or platform with limited access for your students. However, we recognize this may not be possible, in which case you may post it through a more publicly accessible platform, such as YouTube.
3. Since we view this as a way to compensate for the closure of schools, please delete your video or disable access by the end of this current school year, no later than June 30, 2020.
4. Please reply to tradepublicity@scholastic.com with your name, school, city and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book you intend to read online. By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above terms.
5. Finally, we would love to follow along with your read-aloud, so please tag Scholastic's social media handles in any posts affiliated with it!
Twitter: @Scholastic Instagram: @ScholasticInc Facebook: @Scholastic YouTube: @Scholastic
Thank you for all you are doing to help students and their families through this difficult time.
Simon and Schuster
Simon & Schuster is pleased to provide resources and support as you navigate distance learning and bookselling in the weeks ahead. Please visit The Book Pantry website for reading group and teaching guides, author studies, and more at SimonandSchusterPublishing.com/TheBookPantry
In addition, we will permit you to livestream and post readings of Simon & Schuster books online for your students and customers, subject to the following. By posting a reading, you are agreeing to these terms:
1. At the beginning of your video, please state that you are reading the book “with permission from Simon & Schuster.”
2. We ask that you post your reading within the confines of your school, library, or store's platform or another closed group with limited access for your students and customers. However, for Ready-to-Reads, picture books, and any other younger formats, if this is not possible, you may post it through a public platform, such as YouTube.
3. For these younger formats, it is fine to read the entire book. For chapter books and novels, the readings should be limited to a few chapters.
4. Since this is a way to deal with the current extraordinary situation, your video should be deleted or access disabled by no later than June 30, 2020.
5. If you are an educator or librarian, email us at Education.Library@SimonandSchuster.com with your name, school, city, and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book you intend to read online and the date. If you are a bookseller, email us at ChildrensPublicity@SimonandSchuster.com with your name, store, location, and the title and author/illustrator of the book you intend to read online and the date.
6. Finally, we would love to follow along with your read-aloud, so educators and librarians, please tag Simon & Schuster Education & Library’s social media in your posts!
Twitter: @SSEdLib
Instagram: @SSEdLib
Facebook: @SSEdLib
And booksellers, please tag Simon & Schuster’s social media in your posts!
Twitter: @SimonKids
Instagram: @SimonKids
Facebook: @SimonKids
Many thanks for the work you do every day to share books and the love of reading!
Sincerely,
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing