Our library is currently re-writing its policy on buying institutional video. Under the guidance of our copyright specialist who says that classroom screenings fall under fair-use and do not require PPR (which are included in most institutional prices), our new policy is to buy the home-use copy of the DVD, if available, and not the institutional copy. Of course if a video will be screened outside a class, say at a film festival, we will upgrade to a PPR.
At least one distributor has balked at this policy; another actually suggested we purchase at the home-use price when I mentioned I couldn't afford to buy all the videos I wanted from his company at the institutional price. Legally this seems sound, but I'm still unsure about ethically. Do other libraries have a policy on this spelled out? Do you always buy the institutional price/PPR if available, or do you try to source the video at the lowest possible price? If you do buy the institutional copy is it because you feel you *should* or another reason? Thanks for sharing. [image: Library-logo-ES.png] *Anna Simon * Collection, Research & Instruction Librarian Art, Film, and Museum Studies 202-687-7467 ajs...@georgetown.edu Ars Hoya: GU Art Blog <https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/ajs299/> Georgetown University Lauinger Library 37th & O Sts. NW Washington, DC 20057
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.
