Videos in the Library Collection

Educational / Documentary Video Pricing

• The library often pays a premium "Higher Education / Institution" price, especially for documentary/educational videos.
• There are often multiple options at varying license/purchase fees for different DVD and online streaming options (1-year, 3-year, permanent "life of file" ownership).
• Educational/documentary videos are usually much more expensive than commercial/popular videos:
  • DVDs often cost between $150 to $400.
  • Online streaming rights for 1-year often costs $150.
  • Permanent online streaming rights (when available) often cost $500 to $700.

Commercial Video Pricing

• Campus streaming licenses for commercial films usually cost $255 for 1-year via the Swank Digital Campus.
• Commercial films are usually not available for permanent/long-term licensing.

Commercial streaming services usually include licenses which allow only for personal use only.  These restrictions generally prohibit public group or classroom use.

Amazon  (Prime Video or purchase/rent a specific title)

• Terms of use for Amazon streaming videos (Amazon Video / Amazon Prime Video) limit viewing to personal use only (not appropriate for institutions).
• For Amazon video content that is licensed from a third-party (like commercial motion pictures), a library/campus license may be available through a vendor like Swank.
• A small number of original Amazon Studios titles are now (as of 2023/24) available via Swank, while most original Amazon content is not available for a library license or purchase.

Netflix

• Terms of use for Netflix streaming accounts are for personal use only and are not appropriate for institutional viewing.
• For Netflix video content that is licensed from a third-party (like commercial motion pictures), a library/campus license may be available through Swank.
• During the Pandemic, Netflix made a few original Netflix productions available for free via YouTube.
• A small number of Netflix-produced documentaries may be viewed in classrooms and campus group settings via the Educational Screening program.

Other Streaming Services

• Terms of use for accounts on services such as Disney+, Max, Paramount+, etc., are also for personal use. Content from these sites is often available for institutional licensing via service like Swank.

Determining personal video options, including inexpensive rental options:

You can use a service like Just Watch to see if a video is available for free viewing (with ads),  personal rental, or through a personal subscription service.