On 23 April each year, UNESCO marks World Book and Copyright Day – an international celebration of books as waqa of knowledge and cultural heritage, connecting generations and bridging diverse cultures.
This day is also a reminder of copyright law and of the legal and ethical principles that safeguard creators’ intellectual property. At The University of the South Pacific (USP) Library, World Book and Copyright Day presents an opportunity to reflect on the timeless and transformative power of reading, not only as a means of personal enrichment and academic growth, but also as a vital force underpinning USP’s vision of Shaping Pacific Futures.
It also invites us to critically consider how the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), alongside rapid digital transformation, may be challenging and reshaping traditional understandings of copyright, authorship, and access to information.
The book as waqa of Pacific knowledge
Books, whether in print or digital form, remain central to USP’s mission “to influence Pacific Islanders through the pursuit of excellence in knowledge”. Books are not only instruments for the transmission of knowledge, but also for the preservation and dissemination of Pacific cultures, languages, and epistemologies.
The USP Library Network (USPLN), which serves the University’s region encompassing approximately 33 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, is a true testament to the pivotal role that libraries play in preserving, curating and digitising collections that reflect the spirit and voice of the Pacific communities.
As we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, we turn our attention to advancing innovation and embracing opportunities for equitable, seamless access to high-quality resources. Strategic initiatives such as supporting open access publishing, promoting the integration of Open Educational Resources (OER), and strengthening regional collaboration will help consolidate further the role of USPLN as the leading academic and research support hub in the Pacific, fostering knowledge creation, accessibility, and a culture of lifelong learning across the region.
Copyright in academic research
World Book and Copyright Day also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the legal and ethical duties and responsibilities of researchers to comply with copyright law. Copyright law exists to protect the rights of authors, including their rights to publish, communicate, store, adapt, and authorise the use of their work.
Additionally, copyright legislation ensures that these protections are balanced “by providing individuals, educational institutions and libraries with limited rights to copy from the works of others for criticism, review or news reporting, educational purposes or for research or private study” [source: https://www.usp.ac.fj/library/our-services/copyright-intellectual-property-services/]
At USP, research is increasingly shaped by global debates and is guided by a commitment to addressing the developmental, environmental, cultural, and socio-economic priorities of the Pacific region both locally and internationally. Therefore, ensuring that Pacific knowledge is owned, managed, shared and disseminated in ways that respect the rights of the Pacific communities is a top priority.
The USP Library, alongside colleagues from Copyright Services in the Centre for Flexible Learning (CFL), plays a key role in supporting researchers in understanding and complying to copyright law by offering training on referencing and citation, plagiarism, research integrity, research data management and open access.
The role of AI in university libraries
As AI becomes embedded in academic life, the boundaries of authorship and copyright are becoming increasingly blurred. Generative AI (GenAI) tools, trained on vast corpora of texts and data which is often protected by copyright, can produce content that mimics human creativity, raising important legal and ethical questions: Who owns AI-generated work? Can AI infringe copyright? How do we ensure transparency and accountability in its use?
As custodians of knowledge and cultural heritage, libraries are uniquely positioned to lead the discourse on ethical and responsible use of GenAI. This includes advising students and faculty on digital literacy skills, academic integrity, critical thinking and the limitations of GenAI tools.
Concurrently, libraries should explore the potential of AI to enhance library services in areas such as personalised user experience, 24/7 customer support and enquiry services, AI-powered assistive technologies, advanced research tools, and automated cataloguing and classification, to mention a few.
Shaping the Pacific future through reading and lifelong learning
World Book and Copyright Day invites us to reflect on the power of reading, not only as a source of pleasure and education, but also as an act of creativity, innovation and justice for the Pacific communities.
As we embark on an exciting new journey across USPLN, this day reminds us of the importance of continuing to foster a library system that is resilient, future-focused and grounded in Pacific values.
This includes supporting research that empowers communities, protects cultural knowledge, and advances sustainable development. It also means promoting reading as a lifelong habit that enriches our minds and our hearts.
In doing so, we honour the spirit of this day and, together, contribute to writing the next chapter in shaping Pacific futures.
Article by:
Veronica Parisi
University Librarian
