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Question:
I would like to create a factsheet for my agency in the US Federal Government. I read your use policy and was a little unclear on it. If I use the information on this site for a factsheet and provide a citation as described in the use policy is that acceptable use? Could we share that factsheet with employees and post on our website?
Answer:

Hi Julia,
 
Welcome to the Community Tool Box (CTB) and Ask an Advisor, we’re very glad you chose to visit us and for your most excellent question.  You’re right it’s a little unclear so let’s parse it out a bit.  You’re creating a fact sheet for a Federal agency’s employees and those who are likely to visit your website so, clearly, your intended use is not commercial; it’s classified as personal use within a non-profit organization. Per the CTB, Non-Commercial Use: Permission is granted to use and copy CTB documents for any non-commercial use, subject to the following restrictions:
 

  1. The above copyright notice appears on all copies and documentation.
  2. Neither this software and its name nor the name "The University of Kansas" shall be used in any advertisements or publicity programs without specific permission.

 
I would add, that if you are going to put the fact sheet on your website, not knowing whether visitors might use the fact sheet in ways that require permission from the CTB then you should offer either a disclaimer that the material is not to be reproduced or that anyone who wants to use those materials should seek permission from the CTB.  Make sense?
 
As you noted, you need to cite, using APA format, any CTB material that appears on the fact sheets or other documents you create.  APA style citations usually include the author, the publication date, the title of the page or article, and the URL. If there is no author, start the citation with the title of the article. If the page is likely to change over time, add a retrieval date. The 7th edition of the APA manual recommends linking directly to the specific article. It also omits the words “Retrieved from.” For example: Center for Community Health and Development. (n.d.). Chapter 3, Section 10: Conducting Concerns Surveys. University of Kansas. Retrieved January 2, 2020, from the Community Tool Box: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/conduct-concerns-surveys/main.
 
I hope this clarifies the issue for you, it’s a bit tricky so always better to err on the side of precaution.  If my explanation isn’t sufficient do visit the CTB again and we’ll keep working at it until we get it right, but I’m pretty sure that for your purposes you don’t need permission from the CTB.  If you have any questions please contact the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas: E-mail: communityhealth@ku.edu or Phone: (785) 864-0533 for further clarification and permission for other uses.  On behalf of the CTB, I wish you the very best of success in all your endeavors.
 
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Question Date: Fri, 09/04/2020