RE: PP videos

Tatar, Becky (bltata@aurora.lib.il.us)
Mon, 8 May 2000 13:34:21 -0700 (PDT)

We have run into our own conflicts with parents and teachers on this issue.
I had one middle school teacher tell me her principal told her that any
movie was fair game as far as he was concerned in dealing with classroom
instruction. This is after she has selected "Batman" to check out on the
school card, and I had told her about the fair use policy.

We allow teachers with school cards to check out videos at no charge, if it
is for classroom instruction. We have the same policy with homeschooling
parents - a school card enables them to check out videos at no charge, if
they are for curricular use. If the title is not for their classroom use,
they have to use their personal cards, and pay for the video. Well, guess
what. Almost any video is considered curricular - exercise, school
readiness, feature films, whatever. Only a few of the homeschooling parents
make an effort to differentiate between their school use titles, and
recreational use titles. No matter what you do to let people know the law
and policy, they are going to find ways to get around them.

Becky Tatar
Unit Head, Periodicals/Audiovisual
Aurora Public Library
1 E. Benton Street
Aurora, IL 60505
Phone: 630/264-4100
FAX: 630/896-3209
e-mail: bltata@aurora.lib.il.us
www.aurora.lib.il.us