Re: [Videolib] Students paying for access

Sarah-

In a few cases, my library has done this and it's worked. For example, we have a faculty member who teaches a course that requires students to watch 15 films, all of which can only be purchased in the education market (and all of which our library owns a physical copy of). When the course moved to a 100% online format, we had to license digital rights to all of that content - $5,000 is probably a low estimate of what that cost. The Anthropology library fund didn't have the money, students needed to have online access and so in the end the licenses were paid for from the enrolled students course fees (it was a big course, we're talking under $15 per student each semester) - that's also how we're paying for license renewals.

My university has a large Distance Ed enrollment base, so the pressure I feel to provide online access to media may be a little harsher than others. Basically, I'm fine with the idea of a student paying $3.99 directly out of pocket to access a film online (they're ultimately paying for it regardless), but I think the library is also responsible for owning a copy of that same film in a more permanent way (dvd, vhs, digital - formats change) for long term research, classroom use, maintaining the cultural record, etc.

I think we're all having a hard time living up to changing expectations for access, maintaining our permanent physical collections and staying within our (often times dwindling) budgets.

Kim Stanton

Digital Media Librarian

Media Library

University of North Texas

kim.stanton@unt.edu

P: (940) 565-4832

F: (940) 369-7396

From: videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Sarah E. McCleskey
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 11:06 AM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Students paying for access

You all have totally missed my point. If a film is assigned for a class, and the professor doesn't want to take class time to show it, why not count it as a "required text" and offer the students online access for a small fee? What is so wrong with that? It's WAY less than a textbook costs. And students who don't have the $2.99 can come to the library and watch it here. I am not suggesting anything like "charging students for access the research collection of a their own library."

I'm talking about convenience of access for students to watch an assigned film, and for that convenience they pay a small fee.

From: videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Sandra Macke
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 7:09 PM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Students paying for access

I am really having a hard time with this statement. Would the phrase "I love the idea of the student paying $2.99 for a semester of electronic books or electronic journals" go over as well. Also would we as easily tell the faculty or grad student to go down the local bookstore and just buy the book they need for their research because the library deems it too expensive to buy. How many books get more than 5 check outs and yet we still purchase them?

I understand the material is expensive and library budgets can only go so far, but the college/university library is there to support the academic needs of their patrons. If this material is in demand we need to make the case for more budget allocation or a discussion of what could not be purchased instead.

Now if this video material is thought to be equivalent to textbooks for a class, then a new dialogue needs to start with the professors and the campus bookstore about how to make the material available to students at a reasonable price.
But charging students for access the research collection of a their own library?

Sandra Macke
Catalog Librarian
Penrose Library, University of Denver
Sandra.Macke@du.edu<mailto:Sandra.Macke@du.edu>
Google Talk: nyssa75@gmail.com
303.871.3127

Sarah E. McCleskey wrote:

I love the idea of the student paying $2.99 for a semester of streamed access. It leaves our collection budgets for, well, collecting, and provides a revenue stream for NewDay, Icarus, Bullfrog, Newsreel, etc., etc., etc. I think students would rather pay $2.99 than have to come to the library to watch a movie. Every time I say this someone shoots it down, but I really wish more distributors would go with a pay-per-stream model, where we can pass that cost along to the student and use our money for content (rather than access).

Sarah @ Hofstra

-----Original Message-----

From: videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Miller

Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 4:57 PM

To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu>

Subject: Re: [Videolib] A meditation on indie vdeo pricing in an age of fiscalapocalypse

Dear video-ists

1) If amongst say the top 1000 higher=ed media buyers price per se was not

the obstacle to buying important (say the top 25% of released titles?)

documentaries at prices between say $200 and $400,

And now, with reduced budgets there is less ability to continue buying them

- overall.

Then, if distributors who formerly sold at $200-$400 were to cut prices to

say $100

Why should we expect any more of those 1000 top buyers to buy 2 > 4 x as

many (at least) units? I don't get it. If I sold 200 units at $300 = $

60,000 / now I am going to release the same films for say $150 - will now

400 colleges buy that same title? And even if they do, I am still behind

(higher costs, more work).

2) How many of you are using or getting your profs/students to use services

such as

A) Amazon VOD

B) New Day VOD

Could we get say 30,000 students to pay $2 each for say our recent release

on the mortgage crisis WE ALL FALL DOWN? (if we stream it ourselves and keep

all the money, less the 3% credit card fee!) or 70,000 students (!) if it is

done thru a 3rd party service like Amazon?

3) Is Alexander Street's model a good substitute for you? Would you like to

move in that direction?

Perhaps, Gary et al, you can give us some specific commentary on which

companies / policies that you see starting to emerge do you think might

work? What are some companies doing right (Strategically) as you see it?

What companies are moving in the wrong direction, and why.

Otherwise, apart from closing up shop, I am not sure what you are suggesting

we (distributors/ producers) do.

Is that too harsh?

JM

VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
Received on Fri Nov 13 10:40:28 2009