Dear List, I wanted to post this yesterday but computer and email trouble wouldn't let me. A few days ago I asked about this book and it's lack of a copyright stamp. I've been working on a "test" web page for the book's INDEX and other lists I've found in it. I had a mailing list of people interested in the topic of the Prohibition Era and notified them about my "test" page. Below, I've copied and pasted messages I've rec'd and sent since writing my list of folks. I'd like this list to double check "my rights" pertaining to gov't printed material and give me a final feedback. As I was trying to answer the "librarian", I was writing as I understood other people.....use of words like: uncopyrightable, public domain, lack of copyright stamp, etc. Thanks so much for your time and expertise in this confusing issue. Most sincerely, Jacquie (California) #################### First message I rec'd: "Hi Jacquie! Your website is coming along. Being the librarian that I am, I'm impressed that you've thought about and honored copyright laws and sought permission to scan and post the index." ============= My response: Hi,,,,,,,,, As far as the government's book, "Rum War At Sea", here's what I found in the Library of Congress: LC Control Number: 64061298 Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.) Brief Description: Willoughby, Malcolm Francis. Rum war at sea by Malcolm F. Willoughby. [Washington, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1964] xii, 183 p. illus., col. maps (on lining papers) ports. 24 cm. CALL NUMBER: HJ6645 .W55 Copy 1 -- Request in: Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms -- Status: Not Charged There's no numbers in the book itself that I can find anywhere. It just says the Treasury Department, US Coast Guard, Government Printing Office, 1964. I also joined the "copyright" mailing list through rootsweb and was told that this book was considered a government document that was uncopyrightable and since there's no copyright stamp, the book is in the "public domain". Jacquie ============= Second response I rec'd from the same person in #1: Hey... The info you got from both LC and the copyright list is correct. In the copy of the record you found in LC's catalog, the line in the brackets, beginning with [Washington... is the publishing information. The fact that te record states Government Printing Office (GPO) as the publisher tells you/me/us that the item is indeed a government document. The federal government centralized document publishing, reproduction and distribution many years ago and put the GPO in charge of all of it. By law, these items do not qualify for copyright status and are in the public domain. What this means, is that you can do almost anything with that item and not be held for violation of copyright law. Of course, we ALLLLLLLL know that it's just good and honest research to cite all sources, but....as a librarian I've seen some shady things in the past. The copyright list might be able to give you more info re: government docs. On the book, you wrote that it says... "Treasury Department, US Coast Guard, Government Printing Office, 1964". This means that the GPO is the publisher/distributer and that the document was produced by the USCG under the Dept. of Treasury. Have fun, ******** =============