This has been a very insightful discussion. As a distributor, I have another option to ask your opinion of.
It seems the ideal expressed for most colleges is to build and have access to film collections in perpetuity, whether DVD or streaming. Shorter term streaming licenses may be a useful additional option, but are not seen as a replacement for building collections accessible over a long term. With that in mind, what if media distributors offered DVDs with a digital site license in perpetuity at the same or slightly higher price than the current price of a DVD -- and discounts for purchasing multiple films? Right now, most distributors charge quite a bit more for the DSL option. Would that provide more of an incentive to buy DVDs and build collections, whether streaming or DVD? I presume most colleges now have (or will have) digital platforms to host streaming -- and Kanopy (and others?) offer hosting of films purchased with DSL for institutions that subscribe. If you don't find this a useful option, please explain why -- or any other ideas you may have. Thanks to all who have contributed to the discussion, and to Jonathan Miller for initiating it. Steve Steve Ladd ------------------ THE VIDEO PROJECT www.videoproject.com 800-475-2638 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.
