Libraries, book cover images, and websites, oh my!

Ah the perennial library webmaster question: can libraries use book cover images on their websites?  Lawyer and librarian Mary Minow weighs in on her blog, the LibraryLaw Blog.  She posted a few weeks ago with her opinion (it's a case by case thing, unfortunately) and in the meantime many comments have been submitted with additional thoughts and questions. 

Minow does cite case law that one could use to help support the argument that libraries should be allowed to use cover images in their catalogs or websites to help "advertise" the book, or that the additional information surrounding the image is commentary on it (reviews, etc.).  But in the end, only your own library's legal advisor can tell you what you can and can't do.  It might help if you show him/her this post, though, to help with a good start with the relevent case law.