Sharing the PEN Special Collection

How should I link to material?
The best way to link to material in the collection is to use the web address of the publication on IssueLab. If you are currently linking to a publication on PEN's website, the existing link will remain active but will redirect users to the new location on IssueLab. If you are interested in sharing some or all of this collection on your own website, please get in touch with us.

How should I credit the material?
When citing, copying, sharing, excerpting or transmitting the work as is, please provide a clear citation, including the title, authors' names (when available), Public Education Network (PEN) as publisher, and the publication date, as well as a link to the material on the Foundation Center's IssueLab website.

When adapting or "remixing" the work, please note that the new product was adapted from material originally published by Public Education Network (PEN) (again, please include the title, authors' names, Public Education Network (PEN) and the publication date, and link to the source material on the Foundation Center's IssueLab website). It may be useful to explain how the material has been changed. Please be sure your citation does not suggest that PEN or the Foundation Center have reviewed or endorsed your use of the work.

The Foundation Center reserves the right to have the citation of the source material removed if it deems the derivative work is not in keeping with the intent or meaning of the original work.

What does Creative Commons mean?
Creative Commons licenses were developed in the early 2000s as a way to encourage the distribution and use of copyrighted work. Different licenses outline the conditions under which work may be used.

We have chosen to make the PEN collection available under an Attribution, Noncommerical Creative Commons License, which allows for limited use of the material, provided it is properly credited to Public Education Network (PEN) and the Foundation Center and is for noncommercial purposes. Users do not need to secure permission from PEN or the Foundation Center before using, copying or sharing this material, or developing derivative works based on it. By downloading, sharing or creating derivative works based on PEN publications, users agree to adhere to the terms presented in the Creative Commons License.

What does "derivative work" mean?
Any modifications to PEN's original publications constitute "derivative work," and must be clearly identified as such. Excerpts or quotes that are taken verbatim from the original source are not considered derivative work.

We felt strongly that derivative work should be allowed, given that it will enable program leaders, policymakers and researchers to build on and "remix" this material without having to secure permission directly from the Foundation Center. We anticipate this will be particularly useful for program staff who want to continue to customize content from PEN's many hands-on guides and tools for use in their particular organizational setting.

Why did we choose the CC license?
We believe the Creative Commons license is the easiest and least cumbersome way to ensure that PEN's publications remain accessible and relevant for the program staff and managers, funders, policymakers and others who have found them useful over the years. PEN and the Foundation Center are deeply committed to the broadest possible dissemination of PEN's work, to ensure that it continues to inform more effective social programs and policies.