I spent most of yesterday afternoon compiling the list of books that my teachers have read or will read and reaching out to the publishers. Most have online guidance and simply request that you indicate at the start of the reading that permission has been granted by the publisher and then report the books that are being read, especially if it is to be shared via a closed platform (we share ours via links to a Google Drive folder). I have received many responses that either reiterate the requested parameters (indicate permission granted, share in a non-commercial venue, and agree to remove after a certain time period) or indicate that they are happy for teachers to use their books to support children. I used this message followed by the list of books that we have read:
Good Afternoon!
Across the nine classes of our program, we have read or plan to read the following books via video. These books are only available to our families via links to a private Google Drive folder. We serve children between 8 weeks and 4 years old. We agree to delete the videos or to remove access to them by whatever deadline is set during this time of distance learning.
Edited to add: Several publishers have multiple imprints, so my advice is to create your list and then look for the contact info before you send the messages. Larger houses like Random House, for example, will also incorporate Penguin, Puffin, RH Kids, etc., so you can handle large parts of your list via one message if you pre-screen.
------------------------------
Holly Dalferes
Director
George Cottage at St Martin's Episcopal School
Metairie LA
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2020 07:25 AM
From: Deborah Zipkin
Subject: Reading picture books to a group on Zoom
Can anyone tell me if it's okay to read children's picture books aloud to our parent/child playgroups using Zoom? How about posting our readings on Facebook? Is it necessary to get permission from publishers? I'm getting mixed messages from people I have asked. Thank you.
------------------------------
Deborah Zipkin
Director
The Bridge Family Resource Center
West Hartford CT
------------------------------