Movie Purchase Guidelines:

The Gregg-Graniteville Library provides access to streaming film in fulfillment of our mission to support the curriculum while complying with copyright law and fair use guidelines.  However, the high cost of streaming videos combined with budget constraints requires some limits on what the library is able to provide.

The library provides access to streaming films through several different Video streaming services, which provide access to tens of thousands of streaming films. We urge faculty to search the library catalog and these databases for films related to course content before placing a request for licensing.

The library supports curricular-based streaming video as best as we can given budget constraints, restrictive vendor licensing terms, high costs (typical streaming rights for one year ranges from $150-$600 per film), and the need for equitable distribution of streaming across departments. We will acquire streaming rights for courses within the following criteria:

• Films are required viewing for an entire class
• Streaming film requests are purchased on a first-come, first-served basis until the year’s budget is expended.

Streaming films will be purchased through approved library vendors that offer institutional licensing and meet our technical requirements. Certain licensing, technical, and infrastructure restrictions prohibit the library from purchasing streaming rights for:

• Films available on services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon, and others that do not provide institutional licensing
• Films offered only through independent filmmakers
• Films that are not available through streaming due to limited distribution by the studio, filmmaker, or rightsholder

Additionally, the library cannot place freely-available videos on streaming platforms such as YouTube, Vudu, and Tubi in the A-Z list or research guides as these platforms may remove content at any time without providing notice to users. Furthermore, videos hosted on YouTube and other user-driven streaming platforms may have been uploaded outside of copyright compliance.

Licensing is usually for one year. Faculty who require access to a film for more than one year must submit a request each year. Requests should be submitted as early as possible to ensure uninterrupted access. Alternatively, the library is happy to purchase films in DVD format. It is permissible under fair use guidelines for students to watch a film in class or during a scheduled in-person screening.