Did you know that the USF Libraries has a varied collection of media on VHS and DVD?
While available to checkout for home or in class viewing, most homes and classrooms no longer have the equipment to make use of the films, documentaries, and television series stored in these old media formats.
Some classrooms on campus have HDMI connections that will allow faculty to connect a DVD drive in order to show the videos in the classroom. This doesn’t help classes that need asynchronous access to films or courses that are wholly online, which is why the Libraries is often asked to ‘stream’ the films in our collections.
Copyright law allows limited digitization of physical media, mainly through section 108, which lets libraries copy items for preservation within certain parameters. However, digital access is restricted to within the library building, so this does not address the need for streaming copies in classrooms, as users must be physically present in the library. Some libraries have tested services that seek permissions from the rights holders to digitize and host streaming copies of the materials. The process of obtaining and managing copyright permissions for films is time consuming and laborious.
The marketplace of streaming media suppliers is also not oriented to library acquisition. The USF Libraries, as an institutional subscriber, is not able to lease content hosted on platforms such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, or Disney Plus. Only individuals can subscribe to those platforms. Many streaming media titles marketed to libraries are temporary rentals or leased content that expires in one to a few years.
When the USF Libraries can locate a streaming copy for institutional subscribers, the USF Libraries Collection Management Guidelines favor perpetual access over temporarily leased or rented access. A list of currently available streaming titles can be found on our Media guide.
Individual faculty and students considering Netflix and other popular streaming platforms for locating films to show in class, need to understand the restrictions imposed by the platform’s terms of service. These platforms are intended for private, personal use, and their licensing agreements do not permit public or classroom screenings. Attempting to show a film from such services in a classroom setting could violate these agreements, resulting in potential legal and ethical issues. Instead, instructors should provide students with a list of required films and the platforms where they are available, directing students to access the content independently for course assignments.
An exception to streaming platform’s restriction to private use is Netflix’s documentary titles available for educational screenings. Subject to the restrictions outlined on the page, the listed documentaries may be used by faculty in their classes.
Want to learn more?
Explore the following resources related to copyright and streaming media.
- USF Libraries, Collection Management Guidelines
- USF Libraries, Currently Available Streaming Media Titles
- Educational screenings of Netflix titles
- Copyright series