Phrases › At the Library › Posso fare una fotocopia?

Posso fare una fotocopia?

Can I make a photocopy?

Pronunciation

Stress 'fo-to-CO-pia'. 'Fare una fotocopia' = to make a photocopy.

When to use it

Ask this when you need to copy a page or section from a library book that you cannot borrow. Copyright law limits how much can be copied.

What it means

'Fotocopia' = photocopy. 'Fare una fotocopia' = to make a photocopy. Italian copyright law ('legge sul diritto d'autore') permits copying up to 15% of a single publication for personal use ('uso personale') in libraries. Copying more requires permission.

Variations

Dov'è la fotocopiatrice?

Where is the photocopier?

Finding the machine.

Quante pagine posso fotocopiare?

How many pages can I photocopy?

Asking about the limit.

Quanto costa una fotocopia?

How much does a photocopy cost?

Checking the price.

Mini Dialogue

— Posso fare una fotocopia di queste pagine? — Certo. La fotocopiatrice è in fondo alla sala. Costa dieci centesimi a pagina. — Perfetto. Ho bisogno di circa dieci pagine. — Ricordi che per il diritto d'autore non si possono copiare più del quindici per cento del testo.

— Can I make a photocopy of these pages? — Certainly. The photocopier is at the end of the room. It costs ten cents a page. — Perfect. I need about ten pages. — Remember that copyright law means you can't copy more than fifteen percent of a text.

Cultural Note

Photocopying in Italian libraries is regulated by the 'Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori' (SIAE), Italy's authors and publishers rights society. SIAE manages reproduction rights and libraries pay annual fees that allow limited copying. Italian university students rely heavily on photocopied materials ('fotocopie') from textbooks, which has created a parallel economy of photocopy shops ('copisterie') near universities.

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