Intended to help librarians, library media specialists, administrators, and educators better understand the ramifications of the copyright law, Public Law 94-553, this document asks and answers some of the basic questions concerning compliance with the law. Topics covered include definition of the copyright law; scope of copyright protection; implications for public libraries and school districts; fair use; copyright guidelines and their relationship to the law; minimum requirements to be met to be in compliance with the copyright law; contents of public library or school district copyright policies; National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU) guidelines; record maintenance and retention; copyright clearance; effect of copyright law on contractual arrangements for purchase of serials or other materials; and effect of copyright law on video recordings and microcomputer software. Appendices provide guidelines for maintaining records of interlibrary photocopying requests and for classroom copying of books and periodicals in not-for-profit educational institutions; guidelines under fair use for music; CONTU guidelines for interlibrary loans; off-air taping guidelines; do's and don'ts for computer software; suggested district policy on software copyright; the ICCE (International Council for Computers in Education) Policy Statement on Network and Multiple Machine Software; and a selected bibliography on copyright information. (KM)