Film and Media Collections

Hofstra University Library

Collection Development Policy for Audiovisual Materials

 

Scope of the collection:

Hofstra University Library maintains a collection of audiovisual content used primarily in support of the curriculum. Audiovisual orders are accepted from all current Hofstra University faculty, excluding faculty from the Medical School and the Law School, as these faculty are supported by their own libraries.  All faculty requests for audiovisual content in support of teaching are honored whenever possible.

Formats:

The University library collects non-print materials in VHS cassette, DVD, and streaming formats. Occasionally Blu Ray content is purchased for use in Film Studies classes. When streaming access is available from commonly used vendors at a reasonable price, that format is preferred for all content (a DVD will be purchased as backup if available and affordable). When streaming is not available or is prohibitively expensive, DVD is the preferred format.

Selection Considerations for Audiovisual content:

• Curricular relevance. Highest priority is given to materials which are essential to supporting the curriculum.
• Purchase/license price reasonable and funding available.
• Additionally:   Anticipated frequency of use. Interdisciplinary nature. Favorable reviews or awards. Reputation of the creator. Reputation of the distributor. Quality of technical production.

Licensed Streaming Criteria:

• Streaming titles are accessible to all university affiliates with unlimited concurrent users.
• Streaming videos are hosted by vendor or licensed for upload to a hosting platform that is available to all affiliates.
• Streaming videos offer a range of resolutions, applicable to varying broadband availability.
• Streaming video player is reliable, compatible with most browsers, and allows for embed/link into websites/Blackboard. 
• Streaming video is accessible off campus: proxy configuration and title level persistent links are reliable.
• Streaming video platform allows for instructor playlist and clip making capability.
• Streaming vendors provide high quality MARC records.
• Streaming video platform allows for transcribed text search.
• Streaming videos are captioned.
• Streaming video platform provides access to administrative tools measuring, at a minimum, title-level usage and COUNTER compliant statistics.

Acquisitions:

Audiovisual content acquisitions decisions are made by the Head of Resource and Collection Services. Preferred acquisitions methods are life of file digital site licenses (accompanied by a physical format) and subscription collections. Time-limited licensing will generally be used only for required course reserve viewing.

Free web content:

When appropriate, we will promote the use of high quality, free and legally available streaming video. If a requested title has been made legally, freely available for streaming online by the rights holder we may suggest accessing the freely available material as an alternative, acknowledging that we cannot guarantee long term access.

Consumer-facing content:

When an educational streaming license is not available, the library will purchase a DVD when possible. For exclusive content on consumer-facing platforms (Netflix, Amazon, etc.), the library recommends individually paid access.

Public Performance Rights:

The library generally does not purchase DVDs with public performance rights. The library does not pay for one-time public performance licenses. Campus groups organizing public screenings are responsible for all fees for one-time public performance licenses.

Language: 

The Library primarily acquires audiovisual materials in English or foreign films with subtitles.  Foreign language productions without English subtitles will be acquired on a selective basis, usually in response to a specific curricular request from the faculty.   The Library does not acquire language learning materials as part of the audiovisual collection.

Duplication:

We will not normally order a second physical copy of a title that is already in the collection. If a title is heavily used and likely to be of lasting significance, a second copy may be purchased. If the format is VHS and the topic is still of interest we will, upon request, replace the title with new media (DVD or streaming) assuming such is available.

Gifts:

Gifts of media must comply with the acceptable formats mentioned in this statement and must meet copyright policy requirements.  DVD is the preferred format for gifts. VHS content will only be considered for acceptance if it is unique and unavailable in a newer format. The Library reserves the right to refuse any gift that does not fit the current collection development policy. The Library will dispose of unwanted materials by gift to another institution, free to Hofstra affiliates, or discard.

Collection management:

Weeding the collection is occasionally necessary. Titles superseded and/or replaced by other formats or versions are candidates for weeding. The Library will dispose of weeded materials by gift to another institution, free to Hofstra affiliates, or discard.

Ordering Audiovisual Content:

All video orders should be submitted via this request form. Orders will be researched and placed by the Head of Resource and Collection Services. When requesting audiovisual content, you will be asked for bibliographic information including filmmaker, distributor, title, date, web link, etc. Indicate whether streaming is desired, or if a DVD will be acceptable. If a film is needed by a certain date this should be indicated at the time of request. We will attempt to meet your need. Films still in theatrical release are highly unlikely to be available for educational use immediately. The library has no control over when a title is released for purchase or licensing. Faculty will be notified when requested content is available.

Reimbursement for purchases by faculty:

Individual faculty are sometimes in a position to purchase difficult to acquire materials, especially those which are published abroad. Issues of technical format standards and compatibility with existing campus equipment must be considered. Some foreign produced videos will not run on standard US equipment.  Under these circumstances, we are sometimes able to reimburse faculty for items purchased on behalf of the Library. We strongly suggest that you contact the Head of Resource and Collection Services before making these purchases; otherwise, we cannot guarantee that Hofstra will provide reimbursement. Purchases made by individual faculty must include a receipt.

Copyright:

U.S. copyright law permits the circulation of videos to individual library patrons; Hofstra faculty may check out audiovisual materials for one week. The law permits showing a video to a class of students during the course of instruction. For more information on copyright and audiovisual content, go to the Copyright Information Center.

Locating materials:

Hofstra University Library provides full level cataloging for all VHS and DVD titles in the online catalog. Records for most streaming titles may also be found in the online catalog. Our streaming video partners are adding content on a regular basis, so it is a good idea to check the different sites listed in this guide if the desired title is not found in the catalog

 

Sarah E. McCleskey, Head of Resource and Collection Services

1 March 2016

Revised 23 May 2017

Updated 17 September 2019

Updated 10 December 2019

Updated 8 November 2022