Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
I was faced with a similar question in my first month as a media librarian. Faculty from multiple departments had been making requests for over a year now for a copy of a 30 minute documentary that we couldn't find through any of the usual vendors. When I found it for $600 from the studio I ultimately based my decision on: 1. The number of faculty requests 2. Input from subject reference librarians 3. The cultural significance of the film (this happened to be a big one) I also worked with the studio rep to bring the price down to the barely more manageable price of $400; this reduced price was what made it possible. Given the cost though I decided that it had better be well-used so I made sure to find some reviews (both popular and scholarly) that debated the film's socio-historical significance and provided references to these as related teaching material in my announcements to the library, faculty, and students about the film's arrival. So far so good. I hope that helps good luck! -lisa H. Music Media Librarian Howard-Tilton Memorial Library Tulane University lhoop...@tulane.edu 504.314.7822 From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Sarah E. McCleskey Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 9:22 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: [Videolib] question about pricing Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with an educational distributor and that the price may go up. Sarah E. McCleskey Head of Access Services Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 516-463-5076 sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu 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.
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
I am probably a little prejudice since I am working on a group of documentaries in the $350-$400 range. I think it pretty much depends on the value of the film to your school. If it is a film that will be needed and used for more than one class or more than one semester you , it probably is worth a high fee. Let's assume for the sake of argument you can reasonably show that it will be used in classes covering at least 300 students, then you are talking about $1.50 per student which is a lot less than a book they might buy. I am assuming it is fairly specialized title that is not going to be available in the retail market. I don't think there is a set answer for this. I would make the professor(s) asking for the purchase to show that it will get enough use to justify the purchase. Jessica On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 10:21 AM, Sarah E. McCleskey sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu wrote: Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with an educational distributor and that the price may go up. Sarah E. McCleskey Head of Access Services Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 516-463-5076 sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu 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. 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.
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
I wouldn't pay $500 for footage of the Second Coming... Gary Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with an educational distributor and that the price may go up. Sarah E. McCleskey Head of Access Services Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 516-463-5076 sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu 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. Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself. --Francois Truffaut 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.
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 11:17 AM, ghand...@library.berkeley.edu wrote: I wouldn't pay $500 for footage of the Second Coming... Gary Michael Mann and Roland Emmerich would, but let's face it, Hollywood agents would be the first to be judged at the Advent so who would package the movie deal? Perhaps Swifty Lazar will be resurrected... And just to point out Gary, we're still waiting for the First Coming. We Jews are picky about our Messiahs. As you know, the only one we officially recognize is Sandy Koufax and that's only the Reform and Conservative found in Brooklyn and parts of LA. :-) -- Best, Dennis Doros Milestone Film Video/Milliarium Zero PO Box 128 Harrington Park, NJ 07640 Phone: 201-767-3117 Fax: 201-767-3035 email: milefi...@gmail.com www.milestonefilms.com www.arayafilm.com www.exilesfilm.com www.wordisoutmovie.com www.killerofsheep.com AMIA Philadelphia 2010: www.amianet.org Join Milestone Film on Facebook! 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.
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
If you did, I bet it would be in a format that wouldn't play in the equipment you currently own!...and when you looked in to finding a more usable copy, they'd charge extra for it!...AND you wouldn't be allowed to break the software that would allow you to copy it to a more convenient format!!! Loved your response...I'm still snickerin!!! Mark Mark W. Kopp Technology Assistant IT Department Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 4500 6th Avenue Altoona, PA 16602 P: 814-940-0223 ext. 1384 F: 814-949-0984 C: 814-937-2802 -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 11:18 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] question about pricing I wouldn't pay $500 for footage of the Second Coming... Gary Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with an educational distributor and that the price may go up. Sarah E. McCleskey Head of Access Services Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 516-463-5076 sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu 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. Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself. --Francois Truffaut 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. 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.
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
Sarah, Depends on the subject. If its business, medicine, or science, the price may not be out of line with similar programs from the same or similar producers. However, this is the price break at which I ask the requesting faculty member's department chair if the program is sufficiently important for the department to help pay for it. In a perfect world, I'd ask them for 25% of the list price. (In a perfect world, the price nor money the would be an issue.) However, I know that departments are as strapped for cash as everyone else and ask the chair to contribute what s/he can afford. I usually get $50-$100 unless the department has committed or spent all of its discretionary funds. Occasionally, the chair will say that having the program would be nice, but not at the going price. At that point I have two options: 1. spend the $ because I think the program is worth the price; 2. tell the requesting faculty member that we will put the title on the wish list to consider at the end of the fiscal year in case we still have dollars we need to spend. Good luck, Gail Sarah E. McCleskey wrote: Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with an educational distributor and that the price may go up. Sarah E. McCleskey Head of Access Services Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 516-463-5076 sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu 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. -- Gail B. Fedak Director, Media Resources Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Phone: 615-898-2899 Fax: 615-898-2530 Email: gfe...@mtsu.edu mailto:gfe...@mtsu.edu Web: www.mtsu.edu/~imr http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Eimr 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.
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
At San Francisco State we have paid over $500 for, among others: The Abilene Paradox Fish Talking 9 to 5 Communication: The Nonverbal Agenda Groupthink A Tale of O Transformation: Managing Corporate Change Arbitration: The Seven Tests for Just Cause The Hackerstar Negotiation Leader Shift (Joel Barker video) Twelve Angry Men: Teams That Don't Quit We have also paid over $500 for some cd-roms and video series, but most single-title big ticket items are business oriented. Budgets these days are much tighter; I agree that a $500 DVD would be a very tough sell. Brigid Duffy Academic Technology San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA 94132-4200 E-mail: bdu...@sfsu.edu On Jan 21, 2010, at 8:17 AM, ghand...@library.berkeley.edu ghand...@library.berkeley.edu wrote: I wouldn't pay $500 for footage of the Second Coming... Gary Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with an educational distributor and that the price may go up. Sarah E. McCleskey Head of Access Services Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 516-463-5076 sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu 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. Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself. --Francois Truffaut 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. 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.
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
Good thing the ones I am selling ( putting up a videonews sale shortly) are under $400 ( for now). So back in the day Gary you never bought an 3/4 or rare VHS for more than $400? Does seem kind of hard to believe. I don't agree with your corporate comparison. I know there are some VERY expensive titles aimed at business use but there are still and have in the past been many small educational titles in the $500 price range. It is far less common now than 5 or 10 years ago, but they are there. I don't think it is meant to be abusive or exploitative and it usually does come with titles sold directly by filmmakers. If you made a film that cost you $100,000 on a subject that is important but not commercial, you don't have a whole lot of ways to get even some of that money back. Directors see a university with 20,000 students and they think hey $500 is reasonable for them to use my film. I think both sides really need to work together. As I have often said, filmmakers and distributors would be thrilled to sell a thousand copies of a film at $30 as opposed to 75 copies at $300 but there has not been a big enough market for their type of film for this to work. Jessica On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 1:01 PM, ghand...@library.berkeley.edu wrote: I have a collection that's pushing 50K titles and I have not paid over $400 for a single one of them. I was only half-joking with my Second Coming crack. Given the shape of academic library budgets, I cannot possibly justify paying 500 bucks for a single title, regardless of quality or use (the closest I've come is shelling out to Zipporah Films). And unless I got departmental or grant funding to support purchase, I'd refuse to do so... 500 bucks is what the usurers who sell to the corporate sector charge...because they can get away with it. Let's get real. I've been around long enough to fully understand the high production costs and slim markets for indie docs...still, there are limits on what I'm willing to shell out for ANY single doc. gary I would pay $500 for the Cubs World Series highlights DVD ( No Dennis not one from 1908). Gary, I'll back in the day you paid $500 for more than a few films. I think under some specialized circumstances it might be worth it. You might pay $195 for a title that would be used once in a class of 15 students, while the $500 film is for an intro course that has 250 students every semester. I think the bottom line is that the Prof needs to justify the expense. On a related note, do departments every buy something on their own or contribute to a high end item to be used by someone in their dept. ? On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 11:17 AM, ghand...@library.berkeley.edu wrote: I wouldn't pay $500 for footage of the Second Coming... Gary Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with an educational distributor and that the price may go up. Sarah E. McCleskey Head of Access Services Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 516-463-5076 sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu 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. Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself. --Francois Truffaut 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. 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. Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu
Re: [Videolib] question about pricing
Stir Fry had the gall to come around and ask if I wanted to buy the damn DVD of Color of Fear for another 400 bucks...um...let's see, that'd mean I spent a grand on the film. I don't think so... I contend that there ain't a film on earth worth that much money to an academic collection. Gary At 12:44 PM 1/21/2010, Jessica Rosner wrote: I would pay $500 for the Cubs World Series highlights DVD ( No Dennis not one from 1908). Jessica knows I'd pay $500 for that particular sci fi flick as well. The only single-part film I've spent that much for was about a bazillion years ago... okay, I've only been in the job for 15 years, so more like 12 or 14 years ago... when we bought the infamous Color of Fear VHS from StirFry. Checking the ol' handy dandy circ statistics on it, I'd say it really hasn't been worth it. It got a lot of use the first couple of years we had it, but since then, just a couple of handfuls of checkouts. On a large campus with six- or seven-digit video materials budgets, the $500 might well fly for a high-quality, sure-to-be-used title, but on a small campus where the budget is barely in the low five-digits, it's very hard to justify the purchase. If there are multiple profs who tell me they would like to use it, or if there is one prof who is positive it will fit a niche for her year after year, then it'll be done, but not usually if it just sounds like a good one. BTW, good question, Jessica, about whether depts. pitch in. At times here, they do. When we first decided to get the BBC Shakespeare, back when it was released in VHS and cost something like $3200, our English Theater departments kicked in a chunk each. Susan at Wabash Gary, I'll back in the day you paid $500 for more than a few films. I think under some specialized circumstances it might be worth it. You might pay $195 for a title that would be used once in a class of 15 students, while the $500 film is for an intro course that has 250 students every semester. I think the bottom line is that the Prof needs to justify the expense. On a related note, do departments every buy something on their own or contribute to a high end item to be used by someone in their dept. ? On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 11:17 AM, ghand...@library.berkeley.edu wrote: I wouldn't pay $500 for footage of the Second Coming... Gary Susan Albrecht Acquisitions Manager Wabash College Lilly Library Crawfordsville, IN x6216 albre...@wabash.edu * If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.--Neil Peart * 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. Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself. --Francois Truffaut 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.
