We are pleased to welcome to AUBG Fulbright Specialist Prof. Sara Benson from the University of Illinois, who is visiting our campus from May 25 through June 6, 2026.
Prof. Sara R. Benson is the copyright librarian and an associate professor at the Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an affiliated associate professor with the Center for Global Studies, European Union Center, and the School for Information Science at the University of Illinois. She currently serves as Head of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) delegation to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). She holds a JD from the University of Houston Law Center, an LLM from the School of Law at Berkeley, and an MSLIS from the School of Information Science at the University of Illinois. Prior to joining the library, Sara was a lecturer at the University of Illinois College of Law for ten years. Sara is the editor of the ACRL book titled “Copyright Conversations”, and author of the bestselling ALA Editions book titled “Compact Copyright”.
She has been awarded a Fulbright Specialist Grant through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. During her time at AUBG, Prof. Benson will be working on a project focused on a qualitative study analyzing the use of Bulgaria’s copyright law text and data mining exceptions. Her collaboration with AUBG provides an opportunity to exchange expertise on copyright law, digital scholarship, and emerging legal frameworks in research and education.
We warmly invite you to join us for Prof. Benson’s upcoming workshop:
Workshop: Copyright for Academic Institutions
🗓 June 1, 2026 / Room 103, BAC
🕚 2 p.m. / Duration – 1,5 h
👉 Join Zoom Meeting – https://aubg-edu.zoom.us/j/88342421787?pwd=EaoB0h1MVHtTCy0ZaFlPKW7T89egM7.1
Meeting ID: 883 4242 1787
Passcode: 579092
Summary: Copyright law varies internationally, but some principles remain the same. The workshop will offer valuable insights into copyright, research practices, and current developments in text and data mining law. Under the Berne Convention, there are many norms among different nations relating to copyright basics, exceptions and limitations, and other rules relating to academic uses of copyrighted works. We will discuss some of the common rules, as well as some of the unique aspects of copyright law, such as fair use, under American copyright law. Bring your questions about copyright law as well, there will be plenty of time for discussion during this workshop. Faculty and staff from all disciplines are encouraged to attend.
