Welcome to NSDL.org

The National Science Digital Library (NSDL) was created by the National Science Foundation to provide organized access to high quality resources and tools that support innovations in teaching and learning at all levels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

By using this web site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand these terms and conditions of use ("Terms of Use") and agree to be bound by them. We may change or modify these Terms of Use from time to time. So, please review these terms to ensure your acceptance. Please note that in using the site, you might click an item that takes you to another web site and you will want to review the policies, notices, terms, and conditions of other sites.

TERMS OF USE

Use of NSDL.org and NSDL Services

Your use of NSDL software, services and web sites (referred to collectively as the “Services” in this document and excluding any services provided to you by NSDL under a separate written agreement) is subject to the terms of a legal agreement between you and NSDL.

You agree to use the Services only for purposes that are permitted by these Terms of Use.

You agree not to access (or attempt to access) any of the Services by any means other than through the interfaces that are provided by NSDL. You specifically agree not to access (or attempt to access) any of the Services through any automated means (including use of scripts or web crawlers) and shall ensure that you comply with the instructions set out in any robots.txt file present on the Services. You agree that you will not engage in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the Services (or the servers and networks which are connected to the Services).

This site or any portion of this site may not be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold, or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose that is not expressly permitted by NSDL. NSDL logos may be used without written permission for the purpose of providing a link to http://nsdl.org and its associated web pages to educational end users, for example, in the context of directing students to NSDL from a school district’s website or including the NSDL services on a university library system’s website. Other uses of NSDL logos shall be only with prior written permission (e-mail or hard copy) from NSDL. NSDL may withhold approval at its sole discretion and reserves the right to terminate or modify permission to display the NSDL logo at any time. For further information about logo permissions and guidelines, please contact Susan Van Gundy.

NSDL reserves the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, and/or cancel orders in its discretion, including, without limitation, if we believe that customer conduct violates applicable law or is harmful to the interests of NSDL and its collaborators, although NSDL is under no obligation to do so.

Use of Content Discovered Through NSDL.org and Our Services

NSDL generally does not own rights to the content in its collections. Content on this web site that you discover and reuse through our Services is subject to copyright and other proprietary rights protection. By viewing, downloading and using the content accessible through the Services on this site, you agree that you will not violate any of those copyright or other proprietary rights and that you will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Where possible, NSDL provides information about copyright owners and related matters in the catalog records, search results and any copyright notices and licenses, including, Creative Commons Licenses that accompanies content referenced or held by NSDL Services. NSDL does not charge permission fees for use of such content and generally does not grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute content in its collections. Permission and possible fees may be required from the copyright owner independently of NSDL when you access this content.

You may use the content for legal purposes only. It is your obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing, using, or distributing content found through NSDL’s Services. You must make your own assessments of rights in light of the intended use of the content.

The text and other material provided by the Services are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of NSDL. NSDL reserves the right (but shall have no obligation) to pre-screen, review, flag, filter, modify, refuse or remove content from any Service. You understand that by using the Services you may be exposed to content that you may find offensive or objectionable and that, in this respect, you use the Services at your own risk. If you feel you might be offended by the content of a Service, you should not continue.

This site may terminate your access, or suspend access to all or part of this web site, without notice, for any conduct that NSDL believes is in violation of any applicable law or regulation, or is deemed harmful to the interests of another user of this web site and/or any third-party provider of digital content to the site.

NSDL wants to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified on this web site so that we may make the necessary corrections.

BLOGS AND USER COMMENTS

NSDL enables visitors to its site to post and/or submit comments to the site. If you post comments on the site, you represent and warrant that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to the comments that you post on this site and that use of your comments by the site will not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party. NSDL has the right but not the obligation to edit or remove any user comments or blog postings at any time. Neither the comments nor content of these sites, nor the links to other Web sites, are screened, approved, reviewed or endorsed by NSDL or its sponsors. NSDL takes no responsibility and assumes no liability for any content posted by you or any third party.

THIRD-PARTY SITES

This web site contains links to other web sites on the Internet. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, copyright compliance, decency standards, or other materials on such sites.

SECURITY

For site security and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this web site employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, deny service, otherwise cause damage, or access non-public information. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the United States criminal code. Information regarding possible violations of law may be provided to law enforcement officials.

PRIVACY

Please review our Privacy notice to develop an understanding of our practices with respect to this important issue.

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which functions as the legal entity for NSDL, will, in appropriate circumstances, terminate the accounts of users who infringe the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe that your work has been used or copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement and such infringement is occurring on this Site or on sites linked to or from this Site, please provide UCAR's Copyright Agent a Copyright Infringement Notification. Subscribers who feel that an infringement notification has been filed in error may submit a Copyright Infringement Counter Notification.

  1. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act requires that all notices of alleged copyright infringement be in writing. For UCAR to act on your notice, you must be authorized to enforce the copyrights that you allege have been infringed. When informing the UCAR of an alleged copyright infringement, you should:
  2. Identify the copyrighted work that allegedly has been infringed. If multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are involved, please provide a representative list of such works on that site.
  3. Describe the material that is claimed to be infringing and provide sufficient information to permit UCAR to locate that material.
  4. Provide your contact information, including an address, telephone number, and, if available, an e-mail address.
  5. Certify or include a statement that you have a good faith belief that the use of the copyright-protected material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, the owner’s agent, or law.
  6. Certify that the information that you have provided UCAR is accurate. You should attest under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to enforce the copyrights that you allege have been infringed.
  7. Include your physical or electronic signature.

UCAR may not be able to act on your complaint promptly or at all if you do not provide this information.

UCAR's Copyright Agent for Notice of claims of copyright infringement can be reached as follows:

By mail:

Copyright Agent
Office of General Counsel
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
1850 Table Mesa Dr.
Boulder, Colorado 80305

By telephone: (303) 497-8870
By fax: 303-497-8501
By email: copyright@ucar.edu

THE COPYRIGHT AGENT SHOULD ONLY BE CONTACTED IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR WORK HAS BEEN USED OR COPIED IN A WAY THAT CONSTITUTES COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND SUCH INFRINGEMENT IS OCCURRING ON THIS SITE OR ON SITES LINKED TO FROM THIS SITE

ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

NSDL has adopted the access standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All web pages created for NSDL.org that are built, updated or revised after the effective date of this policy must comply with Section 508 requirements. This policy does not include any third party or linked websites. If you cannot fully access the information on any web page of this web site, please contact us to let us know the accessibility issue you are having and we will try to provide the information to you in an alternate format or make the necessary improvements to make the information accessible.

DISCLAIMERS

This site is provided by NSDL on an "as is" basis. NSDL makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of the site or the information, content, materials, or products included on this site. To the full extent permissible by applicable law, NSDL disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. NSDL will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this site, including, but not limited to, direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages.

Material in these pages is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0733600, Grant No. 0424671, Grant No. 0227648, Grant No. 0227656, and Grant No. 0227888. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

APPLICABLE LAW

This site is created and controlled by NSDL in the State of Colorado, USA. Accordingly, this agreement shall be deemed to have been made in the United States in the state of Colorado and shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the State of Colorado without reference to principles of conflicts of law. By using this web site, you consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the state of Colorado.

SEVERABILITY

If any provisions of these Terms of Use are deemed to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such offensive provisions shall be severed to the extent required to conform to applicable law, and the remaining portions of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

OUR CONTACT INFORMATION

To contact NSDL, please visit our Contact page.