Laws for reproducing print online (non-profit).

i think this is maybe the best forum to ask this, if not feel free to move it


I have a website that is science based (biology) and some publications are almost impossible to find, making education suffer as they are real gems. what are the laws for the following circumstances, all to do with being copied -as is (not edited/changed)- for non profit information sharing.

1. old texts that are no longer in print. ranging from 1990 to 1600, but none are being printed anymore.

2. texts where the authors have died.

3. scientific articles that are part of journals.

4. Texts that are not for sale by the publisher/author anymore, and can hardly be found, generally from other collectors/researchers or libraries/schools.

my thinking is that libraries can hand out copies to anyone, but i realize the books were originally purchased then donated, so its a bit different.


here is an example of exactly what i want to do.
http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/cactaceae/default.html

i am thinking i need the written permission to do this, so my last question is who? the writer or publisher?

thanks for any input.