Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? - OK / Not
Dear Farhad To be clear, we are not discontinuing DVDs, nor are we raising our prices for DVDs (in fact for over 35 years we have NEVER raised our prices, just the opposite). All we are doing really, in this experiment, is offering to lower the total costs for those libraries that do want, for whatever reason, to have both, streaming and DVDs. We certainly do not want to lose any customers, including you. And if that turns out to be a result of this experiment, it certainly will be an argument against continuing it. I am not sure what that should be the case, but we will see! Jonathan From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Moshiri, Farhad Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 11:35 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? - OK / Not Dear Jonathan, It is unfortunate to see Bullfrog and Icarus Films have decided on losing many libraries with small AV budgets as their customers. Only large research libraries with big budgets can afford subscriptions to streaming video databases or licensing individual titles for a short period of time. This will certainly widen the gap between haves and have nots. I don't know why making DVDs on demand does not work for your companies and you prefer to loose some of your current customers. Farhad Moshiri, MLS Post-Masters Advanced Study Certificate Audiovisual Librarian Subject areas: Music, Dance, Copyright issues, Middle Eastern Studies University of the Incarnate Word J.E. & L.E. Mabee Library 4301 Broadway - CPO 297 San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 829-3842 From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> <videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu>> on behalf of Jonathan Miller <jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com>> Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2015 9:23 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Subject: [Videolib] No more DVDs? - OK / Not I 've been snowed under by all the responses to my question! And I agree with Barb, one of the main things that we've known, but that has been brought home again here, is that no one size will fit all. I've been in this business (if it is a business) for over 35 years, and one thing I can say for sure: every year things get a bit more complicated. In any case apparent from this discussion is that many of you, while acknowledging and, in most cases, accommodating the increasingly pervasive transition to digital delivery/streaming, DO want to have at least the option of also acquiring DVDs, whether as a back-up to loss of online access, and/or for the DVD's utility in its own right - and the notion of subscribing (for one year or three years or whatever short of forever) to individual films, or large collections, is a difficult trade off of missions, and money, at best. Given that we (and I write here on behalf of both Bullfrog Films and Icarus Films) are on both sides of a complimentary sword, we have been talking about this the last two days, and have thought of an experiment that we would like to put forward: What if, when you license a film for streaming online, or subscribe to an entire collection, you could then also acquire any of those films on DVD for half price? So, if you were to subscribe to The Docuseek2 Collection, you could then buy any Bullfrog Films or Icarus Films DVD, for 50% off, during the entire time your license or subscription is in place. Would this make it practical for more libraries to address both imperatives of collection development? Would it make the tradeoffs a little less difficult? We've discussed that this may reduce aggregate sales by the "film distribution" companies, but it might also make the transitions underway on both sides of the equation smoother? We would like to find out, and so we (both companies) will make this offer available until 12/31/15: Any institution that is currently licensing The Docuseek2 Collection, or commits to licensing The Docuseek2 Collection by December 31, 2015 (whether with a basic subscription, or via DS2's Evidence Based Acquisition program) will be able to purchase, while their license is in force, any title (from either Bullfrog Films or Icarus Films) that available from (or added to) The Docuseek2 Collection, at half price. Both companies will leave this offer in place through the end of the year, and in January we will evaluate how it went (all of us together, hopefully) and whether or not we should continue, modify, or drop this idea. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this! We'll be very interested to see what happens. Thanks again for all the comments, and best for now. Jonathan Miller For Bullfrog Films & Icarus Films From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:vi
Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? - OK / Not
Dear Susan Thanks for asking these questions. The proximate cause was to try and respond to what we thought was expressed by some libraries: concerns about streaming and not having a permanent back up, In discussing the idea amongst ourselves we did think that it might increase the number of DVDs sold to some customers - but not necessarily the amount of money spent. And yes, maybe it would encourage some to license or subscribe sooner rather than later. Perhaps we are wrong, perhaps there will be unexpected developments, or little interest or feeling that this helps, we don't know - but that's something that we think is worth finding out. Let's see, As for your idea to swap the offer around, we didn't think of that, but we're open to it. What would you suggest? Maybe that can be our next experiment! Best, Jonathan From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Albrecht Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 1:40 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? - OK / Not Jonathan, I hope I don't sound snarky with this question, because I don't mean to be(!), but can you explain what the purpose is of offering the experiment with this particular setup? Are you hoping to increase the number of streaming subscriptions? Hoping to bolster DVD sales? Or something different? I guess I don't see a whole lot of those who DO have a large commitment to streamed video already saying, "Gosh, we wish we could also buy the DVD, but as is, we're only able to afford the streaming." What I'm seeing, rather, is a number of us saying, "Gosh, we wouldn't mind dabbling in streaming, but as is, we're only able to afford the DVD." In other words, I'm surprised the experiment isn't the OPPOSITE: Anyone who purchases "X" number of DVDs can add on the streamed versions for 50% off, or add a collection for a certain % discount. Or maybe I'm missing the point altogether. I recognize that's a distinct possibility! Susan Susan Albrecht Graduate Fellowship Advisor Library Media Acquisitions Manager Wabash College Lilly Library 765-361-6216 (acquisitions) / 765-361-6297 (fellowships) 765-361-6295 fax albre...@wabash.edu<mailto:albre...@wabash.edu> Twitter: @Wab_Fellowships www.facebook.com/wabashcollegelibrary.films<http://www.facebook.com/wabashcollegelibrary.films> *** "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." --Neil Peart *** From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Miller Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 10:23 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Subject: [Videolib] No more DVDs? - OK / Not I 've been snowed under by all the responses to my question! And I agree with Barb, one of the main things that we've known, but that has been brought home again here, is that no one size will fit all. I've been in this business (if it is a business) for over 35 years, and one thing I can say for sure: every year things get a bit more complicated. In any case apparent from this discussion is that many of you, while acknowledging and, in most cases, accommodating the increasingly pervasive transition to digital delivery/streaming, DO want to have at least the option of also acquiring DVDs, whether as a back-up to loss of online access, and/or for the DVD's utility in its own right - and the notion of subscribing (for one year or three years or whatever short of forever) to individual films, or large collections, is a difficult trade off of missions, and money, at best. Given that we (and I write here on behalf of both Bullfrog Films and Icarus Films) are on both sides of a complimentary sword, we have been talking about this the last two days, and have thought of an experiment that we would like to put forward: What if, when you license a film for streaming online, or subscribe to an entire collection, you could then also acquire any of those films on DVD for half price? So, if you were to subscribe to The Docuseek2 Collection, you could then buy any Bullfrog Films or Icarus Films DVD, for 50% off, during the entire time your license or subscription is in place. Would this make it practical for more libraries to address both imperatives of collection development? Would it make the tradeoffs a little less difficult? We've discussed that this may reduce aggregate sales by the "film distribution" companies, but it might also make the transitions underway on both sides of the equation smoother? We would like to find out, and so we (both companies) will make this offer available until 12/31/15: Any institution that is currently licensing T
[Videolib] No more DVDs? - OK / Not
I 've been snowed under by all the responses to my question! And I agree with Barb, one of the main things that we've known, but that has been brought home again here, is that no one size will fit all. I've been in this business (if it is a business) for over 35 years, and one thing I can say for sure: every year things get a bit more complicated. In any case apparent from this discussion is that many of you, while acknowledging and, in most cases, accommodating the increasingly pervasive transition to digital delivery/streaming, DO want to have at least the option of also acquiring DVDs, whether as a back-up to loss of online access, and/or for the DVD's utility in its own right - and the notion of subscribing (for one year or three years or whatever short of forever) to individual films, or large collections, is a difficult trade off of missions, and money, at best. Given that we (and I write here on behalf of both Bullfrog Films and Icarus Films) are on both sides of a complimentary sword, we have been talking about this the last two days, and have thought of an experiment that we would like to put forward: What if, when you license a film for streaming online, or subscribe to an entire collection, you could then also acquire any of those films on DVD for half price? So, if you were to subscribe to The Docuseek2 Collection, you could then buy any Bullfrog Films or Icarus Films DVD, for 50% off, during the entire time your license or subscription is in place. Would this make it practical for more libraries to address both imperatives of collection development? Would it make the tradeoffs a little less difficult? We've discussed that this may reduce aggregate sales by the "film distribution" companies, but it might also make the transitions underway on both sides of the equation smoother? We would like to find out, and so we (both companies) will make this offer available until 12/31/15: Any institution that is currently licensing The Docuseek2 Collection, or commits to licensing The Docuseek2 Collection by December 31, 2015 (whether with a basic subscription, or via DS2's Evidence Based Acquisition program) will be able to purchase, while their license is in force, any title (from either Bullfrog Films or Icarus Films) that available from (or added to) The Docuseek2 Collection, at half price. Both companies will leave this offer in place through the end of the year, and in January we will evaluate how it went (all of us together, hopefully) and whether or not we should continue, modify, or drop this idea. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this! We'll be very interested to see what happens. Thanks again for all the comments, and best for now. Jonathan Miller For Bullfrog Films & Icarus Films From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Bergman, Barbara J Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2015 4:21 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? I think the one clear answer we've gotten out of this discussion is that there is no one right answer. Academic libraries are pretty diverse. :) Barb Bergman | Media Services & Interlibrary Loan Librarian | Minnesota State University, Mankato | (507) 389-5945 | barbara.berg...@mnsu.edu<mailto:barbara.berg...@mnsu.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] No more DVDs?
Dear Videolib friends As many of you know Icarus Films has been helping to build, and currently has over 300 titles on, Docuseek2, to provide colleges and universities streaming access to our collection over the internet. Yes, we continue to invest in producing and releasing DVDs of the same titles. And, as streaming usage increases, selling fewer and fewer of them. It is making me wonder if we should stop selling DVDs altogether, not producing them at all for new films, and not ordering any more once we sell the last one of an older one. What do you think would happen if we did that? How many of you would definitely NOT buy or use a film that a professor or collection development librarian wanted to have, if it was ONLY available via streaming? I'm serious in asking this question, I think it may be time to take a (perhaps) drastic step, and not another small incremental one. What do you think? Thanks! Curiously yours, Jonathan Miller Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com<http://www.icarusfilms.com/> http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.com<http://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/> Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com> 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] No more DVDs?
Dear Farhad Thank you = I appreciate the problem with having to license a big collection - that makes perfect sense. What if the title was available to stream individually, by itself, for the same, or lower price, than the DVD? Jonathan From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Moshiri, Farhad Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 10:42 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? Dear Jonathan, We just ordered a DVD from your company last week. Recently, there has been discussion on this topic in this listserv. I can speak for my university only. We develop our collection in both formats. We do have some streaming and we also have a large collection of DVDs. Students want only streaming. Faculty don't care what format is the program as long as there is an easy to use playback machine. They are interested in having access to specific contents only. We do not have a large budget for AV so if your company decides not to produce DVDs, we cannot subscribe to Docuseek2 instead and we are forced to tell our faculty that we no longer can get your programs. The problem for university libraries with small budget for AV is that we need individual programs from a variety of publishers. But each of these publishers are in a different streaming platform such as Docuseek2, Kanopy, Alexander Street Press, Infobase, etc. We are never able to subscribe to all of these services. But we are able to purchase individual DVDs from each of them as needed. Farhad Moshiri, MLS Post-Masters Advanced Study Certificate Audiovisual Librarian Subject areas: Music, Dance, Copyright issues, Middle Eastern Studies University of the Incarnate Word J.E. & L.E. Mabee Library 4301 Broadway - CPO 297 San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 829-3842 From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Miller Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 9:19 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Subject: [Videolib] No more DVDs? Dear Videolib friends As many of you know Icarus Films has been helping to build, and currently has over 300 titles on, Docuseek2, to provide colleges and universities streaming access to our collection over the internet. Yes, we continue to invest in producing and releasing DVDs of the same titles. And, as streaming usage increases, selling fewer and fewer of them. It is making me wonder if we should stop selling DVDs altogether, not producing them at all for new films, and not ordering any more once we sell the last one of an older one. What do you think would happen if we did that? How many of you would definitely NOT buy or use a film that a professor or collection development librarian wanted to have, if it was ONLY available via streaming? I'm serious in asking this question, I think it may be time to take a (perhaps) drastic step, and not another small incremental one. What do you think? Thanks! Curiously yours, Jonathan Miller Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com<http://www.icarusfilms.com/> http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.com<http://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/> Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com> This email and any files transmitted with it may be confidential or contain privileged information and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email and any attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately delete the email and any attachments from your system and notify the sender. Any other use of this e-mail is prohibited. Thank you for your compliance. 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] No more DVDs?
Wow. Thanks to everyone for the great and interesting responses. I will read all the emails over again and try and digest it tonight and if I come up with something half way interesting I will give you some feedback tomorrow. Thanks again! Jonathan From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Reynolds, Jo Ann Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 3:13 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? For UConn also, the only equivalent of a DVD purchase is streaming video with perpetual rights, or at the very least, life of file format. Chris’ comments on how DVDs are used is classes is the same here. The cost of licensing a stream for short terms is just too prohibitive. It limits the amount of new material we can purchase to have to pay for the same material over and over again. We just don’t have the budget for it. Jo Ann Jo Ann Reynolds Reserve Services Coordinator University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library 369 Fairfield Road, Unit 1005RR Storrs, CT 06269-1005 860-486-1406 voice 860-486-0584 fax From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Lewis Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 12:08 PM To: Videolib Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? For me, the only equivalent for a DVD purchase is a streaming video with in-perpetuity rights that we can host locally. We have many VHS tapes and DVDs from companies like Carousel, Films Inc., and LAVA that have gone out of business - but we can still use their titles because we own a tangible version. That wouldn't be the case if the only option was to license a streaming version hosted by the distributor. I understand that this is the direction the studios are headed because the average person has adapted to using Netflix, iTunes. etc. but teaching needs are different and specialized documentaries (or features) that are perfect for a given class may be used regularly long after a distributor has gone out of business. It's just the way that classes get taught. Some professors figure out a lesson plan and more or less set it on autopilot for a couple decades. So my hope was that independent educational distributors would be at the tail end of the DVD weaning process. On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 10:19 AM, Jonathan Miller <jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com>> wrote: Dear Videolib friends As many of you know Icarus Films has been helping to build, and currently has over 300 titles on, Docuseek2, to provide colleges and universities streaming access to our collection over the internet. Yes, we continue to invest in producing and releasing DVDs of the same titles. And, as streaming usage increases, selling fewer and fewer of them. It is making me wonder if we should stop selling DVDs altogether, not producing them at all for new films, and not ordering any more once we sell the last one of an older one. What do you think would happen if we did that? How many of you would definitely NOT buy or use a film that a professor or collection development librarian wanted to have, if it was ONLY available via streaming? I’m serious in asking this question, I think it may be time to take a (perhaps) drastic step, and not another small incremental one. What do you think? Thanks! Curiously yours, Jonathan Miller Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com<http://www.icarusfilms.com/> http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.com<http://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/> Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com> 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. -- Chris Lewis American University Library 202.885.3257 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] No more DVDs?
My question though is: What if you can’t get the DVD? And if we only offer a 1 or 3 year license (Say for the sake of argument), and professor wants to use a film – what do you do? JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Hutchison, Jane Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 4:09 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? I concur with Jo Ann and Chris. Perpetuity for streaming or life of file format. DVDs for those titles we can't get streaming. Regards, Jane Hutchison William Paterson University From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> <videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu>> on behalf of Reynolds, Jo Ann <jo_ann.reyno...@uconn.edu<mailto:jo_ann.reyno...@uconn.edu>> Sent: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 3:12 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? For UConn also, the only equivalent of a DVD purchase is streaming video with perpetual rights, or at the very least, life of file format. Chris’ comments on how DVDs are used is classes is the same here. The cost of licensing a stream for short terms is just too prohibitive. It limits the amount of new material we can purchase to have to pay for the same material over and over again. We just don’t have the budget for it. Jo Ann Jo Ann Reynolds Reserve Services Coordinator University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library 369 Fairfield Road, Unit 1005RR Storrs, CT 06269-1005 860-486-1406 voice 860-486-0584 fax From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Lewis Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 12:08 PM To: Videolib Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? For me, the only equivalent for a DVD purchase is a streaming video with in-perpetuity rights that we can host locally. We have many VHS tapes and DVDs from companies like Carousel, Films Inc., and LAVA that have gone out of business - but we can still use their titles because we own a tangible version. That wouldn't be the case if the only option was to license a streaming version hosted by the distributor. I understand that this is the direction the studios are headed because the average person has adapted to using Netflix, iTunes. etc. but teaching needs are different and specialized documentaries (or features) that are perfect for a given class may be used regularly long after a distributor has gone out of business. It's just the way that classes get taught. Some professors figure out a lesson plan and more or less set it on autopilot for a couple decades. So my hope was that independent educational distributors would be at the tail end of the DVD weaning process. On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 10:19 AM, Jonathan Miller <jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com>> wrote: Dear Videolib friends As many of you know Icarus Films has been helping to build, and currently has over 300 titles on, Docuseek2, to provide colleges and universities streaming access to our collection over the internet. Yes, we continue to invest in producing and releasing DVDs of the same titles. And, as streaming usage increases, selling fewer and fewer of them. It is making me wonder if we should stop selling DVDs altogether, not producing them at all for new films, and not ordering any more once we sell the last one of an older one. What do you think would happen if we did that? How many of you would definitely NOT buy or use a film that a professor or collection development librarian wanted to have, if it was ONLY available via streaming? I’m serious in asking this question, I think it may be time to take a (perhaps) drastic step, and not another small incremental one. What do you think? Thanks! Curiously yours, Jonathan Miller Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com<http://www.icarusfilms.com/> http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.com<http://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/> Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com> 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. -- Chris Lewis American University Library 202.885.3257 VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs?
No – you’re always charming! JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Gisele Genevieve Tanasse Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 4:38 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? Suddenly I'm much less charming-- If you were to only offer a 1 or 3 year license, I would refuse to do business. If this were a faculty request, I would tell them to try to get their department to pay for it. Gisele Gisèle Tanasse Head, Media Resources Center 150 Moffitt Library #6000 University of California Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 PH: 510-642-8197 BCAL: nerdpo...@berkeley.edu<mailto:nerdpo...@berkeley.edu> NOTE: PART TIME SCHEDULE Monday-Thurs 8AM-2PM On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 1:29 PM, Chris Lewis <cle...@american.edu<mailto:cle...@american.edu>> wrote: Speaking for myself, I live with what I can get. Not always happy about it but the vicissitudes of the marketplace kinda dictate it. If the price is too high or the terms too restrictive, we go without. On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 4:14 PM, Jonathan Miller <jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com>> wrote: My question though is: What if you can’t get the DVD? And if we only offer a 1 or 3 year license (Say for the sake of argument), and professor wants to use a film – what do you do? JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu>] On Behalf Of Hutchison, Jane Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 4:09 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? I concur with Jo Ann and Chris. Perpetuity for streaming or life of file format. DVDs for those titles we can't get streaming. Regards, Jane Hutchison William Paterson University From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> <videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu>> on behalf of Reynolds, Jo Ann <jo_ann.reyno...@uconn.edu<mailto:jo_ann.reyno...@uconn.edu>> Sent: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 3:12 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? For UConn also, the only equivalent of a DVD purchase is streaming video with perpetual rights, or at the very least, life of file format. Chris’ comments on how DVDs are used is classes is the same here. The cost of licensing a stream for short terms is just too prohibitive. It limits the amount of new material we can purchase to have to pay for the same material over and over again. We just don’t have the budget for it. Jo Ann Jo Ann Reynolds Reserve Services Coordinator University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library 369 Fairfield Road, Unit 1005RR Storrs, CT 06269-1005 860-486-1406 voice 860-486-0584 fax From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu<mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu> [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Lewis Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 12:08 PM To: Videolib Subject: Re: [Videolib] No more DVDs? For me, the only equivalent for a DVD purchase is a streaming video with in-perpetuity rights that we can host locally. We have many VHS tapes and DVDs from companies like Carousel, Films Inc., and LAVA that have gone out of business - but we can still use their titles because we own a tangible version. That wouldn't be the case if the only option was to license a streaming version hosted by the distributor. I understand that this is the direction the studios are headed because the average person has adapted to using Netflix, iTunes. etc. but teaching needs are different and specialized documentaries (or features) that are perfect for a given class may be used regularly long after a distributor has gone out of business. It's just the way that classes get taught. Some professors figure out a lesson plan and more or less set it on autopilot for a couple decades. So my hope was that independent educational distributors would be at the tail end of the DVD weaning process. On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 10:19 AM, Jonathan Miller <jmil...@icarusfilms.com<mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com>> wrote: Dear Videolib friends As many of you know Icarus Films has been helping to build, and currently has over 300 titles on, Docuseek2, to provide colleges and universities streaming access to our collection over the internet. Yes, we continue to invest in producing and releasing DVDs of the same titles. And, as streaming usage increases, selling fewer and fewer of them. It is making me wonder if we should stop selling DVDs altogether, not producing them at all for new films, and not ordering any more once we sell the last one of an older one.
Re: [Videolib] Question about Scene Selections etc
Thanks everyone for your replies JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jo Ann Reynolds Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 10:23 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Question about Scene Selections etc Yes, chapter stops/scene selections are invaluable tools for instructors. Jo Ann Jo Ann Reynolds Reserve Services Coordinator University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library 369 Fairfield Road, Unit 1005RR Storrs, CT 06269-1005 860-486-1406 voice 860-486-0584 fax From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edumailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Andrew Horbal Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2015 3:47 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edumailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Question about Scene Selections etc Hi Jonathan, I personally find chapter stops/scene selections to be highly useful for film criticism and film studies, as they make it much easier to navigate directly to the scene I'm interested in writing about. My notes always include both a timestamp and a chapter notation when one is available, and it's frustrating to work with a DVD which does not include chapter stops/scene selections. Andy Horbal Head of Learning Commons 1101 McKeldin Library University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 (301) 405-9227 ahor...@umd.edumailto:ahor...@umd.edu From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edumailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Miller Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2015 3:36 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edumailto:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: [Videolib] Question about Scene Selections etc Dear Video People How useful do you and your colleagues find the chapter stops / scene selections that we (and I presume most other distributors) add to the DVDs that we release? Are they really used? Curious Thanks! Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.comhttp://www.icarusfilms.com/ http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.comhttp://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/ Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.commailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] Question about Scene Selections etc
Dear Video People How useful do you and your colleagues find the chapter stops / scene selections that we (and I presume most other distributors) add to the DVDs that we release? Are they really used? Curious Thanks! Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.comhttp://www.icarusfilms.com/ http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.comhttp://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/ Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.commailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] Looking for annual data on video circulation in academic libraries
Dear Jane How do you determine a streaming “circulation” ? is that like a view, and if so for how long a time (30 seconds, 2 minutes etc)? Also if I read your graph correctly, hard copy circulation since 2010 is basically flat, and in fact from 2013 to 2014 it went up, and more or less just as much as streaming went up? Best Jonathan From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Wochna, Lorraine Sent: Monday, March 16, 2015 4:07 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Looking for annual data on video circulation in academic libraries Thanks Jane and Chris, I am working on the same project at Ohio U in order to make my case for streaming services, along with providing enough data to show that we need a general fund for purchasing media either in streaming or DVDs. For us, I don’t think all subject librarians are aware of how much use our collection gets; so getting stats together will help me raise awareness and promote collections. I’m also trying to put together a ‘media team’ as we have no official ‘media librarian’ (I’m the ‘go to/cares about’ person and have not updated our collection policy in quite a while. Lots to gather, but these kinds of conversations are very useful to me, so thank you. Best, lorraine lorraine wochna Reference Instruction librarian Alden Library, 2nd floor Ohio University Athens OH 45701 W 740-597-1238 From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edumailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Hutchison, Jane Sent: Monday, March 16, 2015 3:20 PM To: 'videolib@lists.berkeley.edu' Subject: Re: [Videolib] Looking for annual data on video circulation in academic libraries You can see where our circulation is heading at William Paterson University. We have invested much in building our streaming titles and through a careful collection development plan, we have been purchasing individual titles that are requested or identified that support the curriculum. [cid:image001.png@01D06005.13F2B300] Regards, Jane Jane B. Hutchison Associate Director Instruction Research Technology 300 Pompton Road Wayne, NJ 07470 (w)973-720-2980 (cell) 973-418-7727 From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edumailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Lewis Sent: Monday, March 16, 2015 3:10 PM To: Videolib Subject: [Videolib] Looking for annual data on video circulation in academic libraries I know the general trend is declining based on the growth of Amazon/Netflix/iTunes and YouTube but I'd like to get some numbers for comparison to our trend locally. If you are willing to share and prefer to do it privately I will reciprocate. -- Chris Lewis American University Library 202.885.3257 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] feedback please
Dear Videolib colleagues Please forgive me if this is a bit off, but I was wondering about something, and who better to ask than you? If you had to pick one (1) adjective to describe Icarus Films - what would it be? If you care to reply (off list I presume, but I don't really mind one way or the other) it would be much appreciated. Thank you! Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com http://www.icarusfilms.com/ http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.com http://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/ Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] A Distributor's Response
Dear Jane, We sold twenty copies. But you are right in that the offer was only to this list (and before we had done any other marketing for the film). We would be happy to try this or a similar experiment - I'd even say, of your choosing - again, at any time. (Of course now with streaming the possible pricing permutations are multiplying!) And we'd happy to circulate the results of any such experiment either to the list or at NMM or both, as you may wish. Curiously, Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.Docuseek2.com www.Fanlight.com http://www.icarusfilms.com/ www.IcarusFilms.com Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Hutchison, Jane Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 8:23 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] A Distributor's Response Yes you are correct and I purchased The Strange Disappearance of the Bees as well. However it was only offered on this listserv and not a wider audience. My idea was not to name the price because the title may not be of interest to all or they may have already purchased it, but to see if the price could be lowered a bit to attract more volume. That would be up to those who are more savvy on price/volume models. I'm sure retailers do this quite often. I still think it could be a good discussion at the market. If we ignore we may lose good content because it is not feasible to continue producing. Jane Hutchison Sent from my iPhone On Feb 26, 2013, at 4:43 PM, Susan Albrecht albre...@wabash.edu wrote: From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Bob Norris A pricing discussion at NMM would certainly be lively but I doubt it would accomplish much. Each company must work out their own prices based on a host of factors. You know it is complicated when there are graduate level classes and Nobel Prizes for pricing models. However, from more of a fun standpoint, I may not be apposed to putting one of FIlm Ideas' titles up for sale based on a pay what you feel you can bases just to see what happens. Something may be learned. I'd only do it if the collective wisdom didn' think that was totally, for lack of a better word, stupid. Bob Well, you may recall that a couple of years ago, when we were once again talking about pricing issues, Jonathan Miller of Icarus offered a Groupon type deal that, if X number (originally 100, later reduced to 50) agreed to buy STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE BEES, he'd cut the price to $200. I can't recall the resolution, in terms of how many actually agreed to join in (I know I did), but I'm pretty sure we didn't get anywhere near the 50. Still, it was an interesting suggestion (and I know I did receive the reduced price J). Anyone able to say how many did step up on that offer? I don't think it's stupid to offer something unique like a Name the price you think is reasonable deal. I'm not sure it'll get us anywhere closer to any kind of pricing resolution, but every experiment surely offers a chance to add some interesting feedback. Susan at Wabash 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] Gary Handmann
Actually Meredith volunteered. JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Miller Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 2:08 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: [Videolib] Gary Handmann Dear Gary I planned to write you a personal note, then I figured it might be nicer to tell as many people as possible what I have to say. Which is that I hope you know how much your work and dedication and support and friendship over the years have meant to so many people, including myself. There is little I can do to repay what I owe except to send a few trinkets (which we have done), and to say thank-you. Jonathan PS Oh ok, there is this: If you come to Las Vegas I'll have Meredith organize a party for you! Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com http://www.icarusfilms.com/ http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.com http://homevideo.icarusfilms.com/ Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] Adios: The Movie
If you do I will put it up -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 2:37 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: [Videolib] Adios: The Movie Hi all Well, it's really getting down to the wire, folks...Thursday is it for me. Given its increasingly dire financial situation, the library no longer provides individual retirement celebrations; they hold one rather paltry party for everyone who retires in June...sort of like a mass burial. Hope there's booze, at least. Since I'm in no mood to make yet another going-away speech, I cobbled together a little 8 minute clip reel that I'm gonna show in flagrant disregard for copyright. I think it's only appropriate that I go out in grand, transgressive style. And to compound the transgression, I've put the video up for your streaming pleasure at: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/videodir/asx2/adios.asx Unfortunately, it's encoded for Windows media player... If you're a Mac person (as am I), you'll need to download the free Flip4Mac plug-in from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/windows-media-player/wmc omponents Don't get your shorts in a wed, Jessica. I'll take it down tomorrow. xoxox g. 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] Adios: The Movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 2:37 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: [Videolib] Adios: The Movie Hi all Well, it's really getting down to the wire, folks...Thursday is it for me. Given its increasingly dire financial situation, the library no longer provides individual retirement celebrations; they hold one rather paltry party for everyone who retires in June...sort of like a mass burial. Hope there's booze, at least. Since I'm in no mood to make yet another going-away speech, I cobbled together a little 8 minute clip reel that I'm gonna show in flagrant disregard for copyright. I think it's only appropriate that I go out in grand, transgressive style. And to compound the transgression, I've put the video up for your streaming pleasure at: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/videodir/asx2/adios.asx Unfortunately, it's encoded for Windows media player... If you're a Mac person (as am I), you'll need to download the free Flip4Mac plug-in from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/windows-media-player/wmc omponents Don't get your shorts in a wed, Jessica. I'll take it down tomorrow. xoxox g. 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] videolib Digest, Vol 53, Issue 15
Exactly - Gary is going in to drip irrigation! JM -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of nahum laufer Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 2:09 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] videolib Digest, Vol 53, Issue 15 Dear Gary I just arrived at your Video lib this week, and you won't be around. Thanks for all your help My advice as one pensioner to another, don't sit around doing nothing find something interesting something differant, I myself was an expert on drip irrigation joined my son to make and distribute films. Nahum Laufer At 11:17 AM 02/04/2012, you wrote: Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls It is with a mix of melancholy, ebullience, slight trepidation, and vast relief that I announce my forthcoming retirement from the University of California Berkeley and the Media Resources Center on June 28, 2012. Today marks my 33rd anniversary with the University, and this year my 36th as a librarian (a fact which seems more than a little surreal to me). I???ve been director of the Media Center for about 28 of those years, and there hasn???t been week, good or bad, that has gone by without my murmuring a little thanks for the cosmic hiccups that allowed me to stumble into such a cool and personally rewarding gig. I simply cannot think of anywhere that I would have been happier professionally, or another position in which I would have grown and learned and contributed as much. In some sense, I feel a bit like Mark Twain, who was born during the fiery appearance of Halley???s Comet, and who went out with its reappearance, 74 years later. I began my career in media in the early 80s, at the dawn of the home video age (or the ???Video Revolution??? as it was often hyperbolically called in the library literature at the time). I???m bowing out of the business at a time when the technologies and economics of video production and distribution, and the video content universe itself are again in a state of radical flux. Along with these changes, video collections and service in libraries are also bound to experience major tremors and evolutionary shifts. I???m not sure whether I???m leaving the scene feeling sanguine or pessimistic about this future, but in any case it???s definitely going to be an interesting and challenging next decade. I am going to miss all my long-time professional pals profoundly, both those on the library side and the distributor side of the fence. I grew up with a number of you in this field, and along the way you???ve become a kind of extended workaday family, complete with the obstreperous get-togethers, occasional bickering, and comforting sympathy. I???m also heartened by the number of young, creative, and energetic colleagues who have hopped on board in more recent times. Definitely makes me less gloomy about prospects for the future. Not sure exactly what I???m going to do next: I???d like to continue teaching film somewhere on campus or off; I???m up for grabs as a consultant; want to write a bit; gotta catch up on all the national cinemas I???ve given short-shrift to over the years; want to log in more gym time; would like to hone my banjo and ukulele-playing chops; want to get back to freelance cartooning and illustration. At very least, I???m aiming at becoming an accomplished and well-known Berkeley fl??neur and caf?? personality. As for the fate of the UC Berkeley Media Resources Center? In light of the dire econommic straits into which UC has been shoved, it is almost completely unlikely that my position will be filled any time soon. The future of the redoubtable MRC collection and website remains murky, at best. I can???t really think about all of this too much; it???s just too damn depressing to ponder, and I???ve got other things on my mind. In other words, apr??s moi, le deluge, and there???s not a damn thing I can do about it. For the time being, Gisele Tanasse (MLIS), crack MRC Operations Czarina, will look after the shop. She has also graciously agreed to keep an administrative eye on videolib and videonews. (Note, however, that she???s going out on maternity leave from May until around the end of September, so you???re pretty much on your own during that hiatus. Play nice!). Gisele???s email is gtana...@library.berkeley.edu. I???ll be around and wrapping things up for the next few months. My civilian email address after June is going to be garyhand...@gmail.com and I???m also on Facebook. I???d love to stay in touch (but please don???t contact me about anything having to do with copyright or fair use). Best of luck for the future, comrades! Continue fighting the good fight. It really has been an honor and a delight working with you all. Salud! Gary Handman Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu
Re: [Videolib] FAQ and more learning resources on librarians' fair use code
WHAT THIS ISN'T This code of best practices was not negotiated with rights holders. This code is the work of the academic and research library community and arises from that community's values and mission. It presents a clear and conscientious articulation of the values of that community, not a compromise between those values and the competing interests of other parties. From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Patricia Aufderheide Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 4:13 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Cc: Brandon Butler Subject: [Videolib] FAQ and more learning resources on librarians' fair use code With apologies for delay, and gratitude for the suggestions, I'm including here resources that address concerns that have surfaced on this listserv, and that help people understand what the Code does and doesn't do. For those who want to know how the code was formed, and how it differs from guidelines, Brandon Butler has written What If We Asked the Librarians?, which is here: http://policynotes.arl.org/post/16520252319/what-if-we-asked-the-librarians- or-how-the The FAQ for librarians addresses the questions raised on this listserv, including about VHS to DVD, and whole-copy streaming: http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/libraries/faq-librarians Also, on this page, http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/libraries you can take your pick of briefing papers. And on this page, http://centerforsocialmedia.org/libraries/articles you can delve into the scholarly literature that supports this approach. Thank you all! We all hope this helps! -- Pat Aufderheide, University Professor and Director Center for Social Media, School of Communication American University 3201 New Mexico Av. NW, #330 Washington, DC 20016-8080 www.centerforsocialmedia.org pauf...@american.edu 202-643-5356 Order Reclaiming Fair Use: How to Put Balance Back in Copyright, with Peter Jaszi. University of Chicago Press, 2011. http://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Fair-Use-Balance-Copyright/dp/0226032280/r ef=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8qid=1321544105sr=8-2 Sample http://centerforsocialmedia.org/reclaiming Reclaiming Fair Use! Early comments on Reclaiming Fair Use: The Supreme Court has told us that fair use is one of the traditional safeguards of the First Amendment. As this book makes abundantly clear, nobody has done better work making sure that safeguard is actually effective than Aufderheide and Jaszi. The day we have a First Amendment Hall of Fame, their names should be there engraved in stone. --Lewis Hyde, author, Common as Air: Revolution, Art and Ownership Reclaiming Fair Use will be an important and widely read book that scholars of copyright law will find a 'must have' for their bookshelves. It is a sound interpretation of the law and offers useful guidance to the creative community that goes beyond what some of the most ideological books about copyright tend to say.-Pamela Samuelson, University of California, Berkeley School of Law If you only read one book about copyright this year, read Reclaiming Fair Use. It is the definitive history of the cataclysmic change in the custom and practice surrounding the fair use of materials by filmmakers and other groups. --Michael Donaldson, Esq. Senior Partner, Donaldson Callif, Los Angeles. 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] offer of an FAQ and even a webinar
With respect, already in the first sentence of Mr. Butler's portion of this email, he has tilted the pinball machine, and created a straw man the easier to knock down: there is NO concern by either librarians or vendors (filmmakers and distributors) about threatening our relationship if librarians exercise their fair use rights - this is preposterous. The concern is over the DEFINITION and parameters of what those rights are. To frame any question or discussion of the definition and parameters as a question of the basic concept (by a competent attorney trained in the proper use of words and language no less), whether intentional or not, will only create more confusion not less. I refer every one back to Larry Daressa's email to the list yesterday, better reasoned and argued than anything I am capable of. JM -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Patricia Aufderheide Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 11:10 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Cc: Brandon Butler; Peter Jaszi Subject: Re: [Videolib] offer of an FAQ and even a webinar Thanks to everyone who's invested in this issue, and I continue to hope that we can benefit from education on this issue. I've shared your concerns with the lawyers who shaped the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries with me and ARL's Prue Adler, on the basis of meeting with dozens of librarians and interviews with many more. The ARL's lawyer Brandon Butler, suggested what I think is a great idea and since he's not on the list, I'm posting it for him (he's bran...@arl.org): Brandon's message: We understand that there is concern both among librarians and vendors that a thriving relationship between them might be threatened if librarians exercise their fair use rights. We don't believe that is true, but we recognize that there is concern. We're hoping to deepen our resources, given the concerns on this list, and to prepare an FAQ that addresses your questions in a way that can add light not heat to the discussion. (We can also offer you a dedicated webinar, if you like.) Here are some questions we think could be addressed with such an FAQ, given the concerns on the list. Please tell us if these are not concerns, or if the questions could be sharpened. And can you let me know any others? *Does this Code really say that librarians can stream audio and video for student use, without licensing it for that specific use? *Does fair use law really let a librarian copy a VHS to a DVD? *Does the Code's language on exhibits let a librarian show a video publicly without getting public performance rights? *Don't librarians have to pay educational prices to use films/videos in a library context? *What authority is the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries grounded in? *How risky would it be for a librarian to actually use this Code? On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 9:13 AM, Patricia Aufderheide pauf...@american.edu wrote: I strongly encourage people to attend this or other webinars being hosted around the country by ARL on the Code ( http://www.arl.org/pp/ppcopyright/codefairuse/code-calendar.shtml ). The echo chamber effect on this listserv of panic is really not healthy for anyone. The fear, panic and alarm can be alleviated tremendously by actually reading the code (among other places, at arl.org/fairuse), and if you for any reason believe that the Code does not meet the standards of the law, I encourage you to consult one of the briefings on the ARL's fair use site, or delve deeper into the legal and scholarly lit (we did) at this site: ( http://www.arl.org/pp/ppcopyright/codefairuse/further-info.shtml). But please do not scare yourselves into believing that the Code impairs the relationship between creativity and connection. It's unnecessary and harmful, to you among others. Librarians using the Code will continue to need, want and even love and pay for the work of filmmakers producing work for their patrons, while they also judiciously and appropriately employ their fair use rights (just as documentarians, journalists, scholars and other creators of work that librarians preserve and make available do). Do take the opportunity to educate yourselves; it will go far to reduce anxiety. On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 7:20 PM, Deg Farrelly deg.farre...@asu.edu wrote: FYI Virtual seminar sponsored by NACUA, the National Association of College and University Attorneys in conjunction with The Association of Research Libraries and the American Council on Education. The date of the seminar is Thursday, February 23, 2012 The online portion of the program is scheduled to start at 10:00 am and will run until 12 noon. More info here: http://www.nacua.org/meetings/virtualseminars/february2012/home.html -deg -- deg farrelly Arizona State University P.O. Box 871006 Tempe, AZ 85287 Phone:
Re: [Videolib] ACRL Best Practices
We do have the resources NOT to sell to UCLA until and unless they modify their position in this regard, and this our policy, and we urge all other distributors to adopt the same position as Icarus Films and Fanlight Productions. And if we learn/know that any other library/university does or intends to assert the same thing, we won't sell to them, either. JM Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com http://HomeVideo.IcarusFilms.com Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jessica Rosner Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 1:53 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] ACRL Best Practices Actually it is supported by the law. The Kinko's case is literally the only case directly on point and it has not been overturned. The problem is that the people concerned about this simply do not have the legal resources to fight it in court. I could claim that there is no precedent that says I can not make copies of every Seinfield episode and hand them out for free on the street because there has been no EXACT case saying that I could not. On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 11:32 AM, Brown, Roger rbr...@oid.ucla.edu wrote: Hi, Jessica, I think Michael is pointing out that there is no explicit ruling against use of an entire work, depending upon the way Fair Use or Teach or 108 is interpreted and the circumstances. Kim Stanton also points out that the distinction between core resources and ancillary ones is blurring. Your apparent insistence that the streaming and performance of a full feature is illegal under any and all circumstances including fair use isn't supported by case law at this point. - - Roger Brown Manager UCLA Instructional Media Collections Services 46 Powell Library Los Angeles, CA 90095-1517 office: 310-206-1248 fax: 310-206-5392 rbr...@oid.ucla.edu On 2/16/12 7:53 AM, Jessica Rosner jessicapros...@gmail.com fashioned the following lines: This is NOT about TEACH Michael which has it's own rules and this discussion has been about wholesale digitizing and streaming of feature works as fair use On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Brewer, Michael brew...@u.library.arizona.edu wrote: There is a big difference between a performance and making a copy for download. A streamed performance (of a recorded reading) of a book actually might very well fall under TEACH, even if the book were read in its entirety. It depends on whether or not it would meet all the criteria in the law, most specifically what kind of work it is and how one defines nondramatic literary work. See the Exceptions for Instructors eTool for more information, specifically this page and the notes: http://librarycopyright.net/etool/reasonableandlimited.php?ca=1 Entire works - books, video, etc. - may also be used in their entirety (streamed, made available for download, etc.) for research and teaching if they are in their last 10 years of copyright protection and are not being commercially exploited. I know that these are specific exceptions, but it is important for people to understand that there is no prohibition on using entire works without the permission of the copyright holder. There are exceptions in 110, 108 and 107 (Sony, Bill Graham Archives, etc.), among others. mb On Feb 16, 2012, at 8:18 AM, Jessica Rosner wrote: My paranoia. You mean about saying fair use means an entire film can be streamed if a professor says he needs it which is directly contrary to the entire history of fair use and would be another likely fatal blow for independent film distribution. I would still like to know why you sell your books as opposed to making them available for free as downloads since that appears to be what you want filmmakers to do. I wish I could figure a way to make this my sig for videolib posts The mere fact that the portions copied by Kinko¹s were those that the college professor singled out as being critical parts of the books demonstrates that even if not ³the heart of² the works in question, the parts copied were substantial in quality ( Yes I know Kinko's was for profit but I can't see how that changes the long established concept per above that fair use is PORTIONS of works used to create NEW WORKS) On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 9:20 AM, Patricia Aufderheide pauf...@american.edu wrote: It would be great to do more education, and ARL is eager to do so! Thank you! Enough with the paranoia! On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 2:37 PM, Sarah E. McCleskey sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu wrote: Would a proposal for a program on the new code of best practices be welcome at National Media Market, or would such a session it just turn into a rant session? I'm thinking of a general discussion then breakout into smaller
Re: [Videolib] ACRL Best Practices
As you said - you are not a lawyer. JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Patricia Aufderheide Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 9:36 AM To: ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Cc: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] ACRL Best Practices Thank you, Gary! I think your example of Avatar is very interesting. If I were the librarian, I would ask the professor to explain why the prof needs the entire film, and how the students will interact with the entire film to demonstrate the point. There are, for instance, hilarious mashups of Pocahantas and Avatar (just Google both names on Youtube) that accomplish that basic insight quite efficiently. I can also imagine, although just barely, a situation where I as an instructor might assign the whole film, but analytically such that I would assign any particular stretch of a film to different groups in class to tag (yes, it would be a lot easier in html5 but that's coming) for a variety of techniques/approaches, and ask each group also to critique and comment on the tagging of the others. This might mean putting up the film, but not necessarily in one whole stream. But I say this not as a lawyer but as a teacher. The point being, fair use is not a pass to use material for the same purpose as the original with a figleaf excuse (hey, I'm looking for imperialism!), but it is possible to imagine needing 100% of any work with a legitimate fair use. On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 11:50 AM, ghand...@library.berkeley.edu wrote: Thanks, Pat (and thanks again for spearheading the development of these guidelines) I am a still a bit concerned about the e-reserves section--the limitations and enhancements not withstanding. If I am reading this section correctly, almost any full-length copyrighted video work that is central to the curriculum (the instructor's pedagogical purpose) could conceivable be digitized and streamed for use in face-to-face classroom teaching under the banner of transformative use (I screen Avatar in an ethnic studies class to discuss metaphors of imperialism, bingo! Transformative!) It seems to me that this particular section ignores (or at least attempt to trump) the established tests of fair use, as, for example, cases in which a content owner/provider that has an existing or potential significant economic stake in making content available online. Thanks as always for your views and input. Gary Handman Thank you for reading these! 1) In terms of e-reserves (section 1), it's really important to read both the limitations and the enhancements. They qualify that general assertion, and make clear that you need a transformative purpose, which in the case of e-reserves would be appropriate to the course. You can also see that there are limitations regarding the type of material as well. And of course appropriate amount, as the general material in the code stresses, is always an issue. *LIMITATIONS * Closer scrutiny should be applied to uses of content created and marketed primarily for use in courses such as the one at issue (e.g., a textbook, workbook, or anthology designed for the course). Use of more than a brief excerpt from such works on digital networks is unlikely to be transformative and therefore unlikely to be a fair use. The availability of materials should be coextensive with the duration of the course or other time-limited use (e.g., a research project) for which they have been made available at an instructor's direction. Only eligible students and other qualified persons (e.g., professors' graduate assistants) should have access to materials. Materials should be made available only when, and only to the extent that, there is a clear articulable nexus between the instructor's pedagogical purpose and the kind and amount of content involved. Libraries should provide instructors with useful information about the nature and the scope of fair use, in order to help them make informed requests. When appropriate, the number of students with simultaneous access to online materials may be limited. Students should also be given information about their rights and responsibilities regarding their own use of course materials. Full attribution, in a form satisfactory to scholars in the field, should be provided for each work included or excerpted. *ENHANCEMENTS:* The case for fair use is enhanced when libraries prompt instructors, who are most likely to understand the educational purpose and transformative nature of the use, to indicate briefly in writing why particular material is requested, and why the amount requested is appropriate to that pedagogical purpose. An instructor's justification can be expressed via standardized forms that provide a balanced menu of common or recurring fair use rationales. In order to assure the continuing relevance of those materials to course content, libraries should require
Re: [Videolib] ACRL Best Practices
Nor does this contribute to clear understanding in any way. And asserting that this something (ill-defined and subject of much debate - i.e. a moving target) does not threaten content owners does not make it so. Content owners are a diverse lot, as are their rights and interests. I can tell you this, for example: in my experience over 30+ years, the #1 way that people (and companies) try and avoid paying for someone else's work in the film/TV business, is to argue fair use. And, that trend is only increasing. I write this as someone who worked w/ Marlon Riggs and on the distribution of COLOR ADJUSTMENT, a film that could exist and be shown at all only because of Fair Use. I can also testify to the increasing claim of Fair use by e.g. PBS stations, well funded independent filmmakers, etc. to avoid paying for other peoples footage and work. Why not? If you can get away with it, as long as it does not gore your ox, why not? This is not a dis interested discussion or argument. (and on at least one other level not addressed). JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Patricia Aufderheide Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 9:39 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] ACRL Best Practices Thank you for noticing that fair use does not threaten content owners. Indeed, most of us are content owners, after all. One of the benefits of having clear understandings at the level of professional practice about fair use is that it reduces marketplace friction, and makes it easier for content holders to clearly identify when uses might reasonably exceed fair use. At the same time, fair use enables content creation at every point. You couldn't have documentary film or journalism without it, and those are communities that are legitimately and correctly passionate about ownership rights. On Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 4:12 PM, Bob Norris b...@filmideas.com wrote: Three cheers to Gary for sticking up for the content owners. Bob Film Ideas, Inc. On Jan 30, 2012, at 2:55 PM, videolib-requ...@lists.berkeley.edu wrote: When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of videolib digest... Today's Topics: 1. Re: ACRL Best Practices (ghand...@library.berkeley.edu) From: ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Date: January 30, 2012 10:50:13 AM CST To: pauf...@american.edu, videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] ACRL Best Practices Reply-To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Thanks, Pat (and thanks again for spearheading the development of these guidelines) I am a still a bit concerned about the e-reserves section--the limitations and enhancements not withstanding. If I am reading this section correctly, almost any full-length copyrighted video work that is central to the curriculum (the instructor's pedagogical purpose) could conceivable be digitized and streamed for use in face-to-face classroom teaching under the banner of transformative use (I screen Avatar in an ethnic studies class to discuss metaphors of imperialism, bingo! Transformative!) It seems to me that this particular section ignores (or at least attempt to trump) the established tests of fair use, as, for example, cases in which a content owner/provider that has an existing or potential significant economic stake in making content available online. Thanks as always for your views and input. Gary Handman Thank you for reading these! 1) In terms of e-reserves (section 1), it's really important to read both the limitations and the enhancements. They qualify that general assertion, and make clear that you need a transformative purpose, which in the case of e-reserves would be appropriate to the course. You can also see that there are limitations regarding the type of material as well. And of course appropriate amount, as the general material in the code stresses, is always an issue. *LIMITATIONS * Closer scrutiny should be applied to uses of content created and marketed primarily for use in courses such as the one at issue (e.g., a textbook, workbook, or anthology designed for the course). Use of more than a brief excerpt from such works on digital networks is unlikely to be transformative and therefore unlikely to be a fair use. The availability of materials should be coextensive with the duration of the course or other time-limited use (e.g., a research project) for which they have been made available at an instructor's direction. Only eligible students and other qualified persons (e.g., professors' graduate assistants) should have access to materials. Materials should be made available only when, and only to the extent that, there is a clear articulable nexus between the instructor's pedagogical purpose and the kind and amount of content involved. Libraries should provide instructors with useful information about the nature and the scope of
Re: [Videolib] Friday fun question, early...
Well, don't forget OUR DAILY BREAD! JM From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jo Ann Reynolds Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 5:00 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Friday fun question, early... Now, come on, the real meat and potatoes food films are: Food, Inc. Forks over Knives Eating Alaska Fresh Poisoned Waters What's on your plate? Good Food King Corn Unnatural Causes The Future of Food Fridays at the Farm Farming the Seas Supersize Me The Real Dirt on Farmer John Chickens in the City River of Renewal American Fisheries: a cautionary tale You may never want to eat again after viewing some of them. Jo Ann Jo Ann Reynolds Reserve Services Coordinator University of Connecticut Libraries 369 Fairfield Road, Unit 2005RR Storrs, CT 06269-2005 jo_ann.reyno...@uconn.edu 860-486-1406 860-486-5636 (fax) http://classguides.lib.uconn.edu/mediaresources From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Nellie J Chenault/FS/VCU Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 4:22 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Friday fun question, early... Most Les Blank films I like In heaven there is no beer?, Garlic is as good as ten mothers, Yum, Yum Yum Some more: Alice's Restaurant Pieces of April (Thanksgiving disaster!) Bread and chocolate (a fav) The Perfect Holiday No Reservations Moonstruck My Big Fat Greek Wedding Tortilla Soup Wedding Banquet Joy Luck Club Fried Green Tomatoes Goodfellas Lady and the Tramp Ratatouille Cloudy and a chance of meatballs Getting hungry! Nell Nell Chenault Research Librarian for Film and Music VCU Libraries (804) 828-2070 From:Ball, James (jmb4aw) jmb...@eservices.virginia.edu To:videolib@lists.berkeley.edu videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Date:11/03/2011 03:00 PM Subject:[Videolib] Friday fun question, early... Sent by:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu _ Here I go again. For November we like to feature videos that have something to do with food, eating, gathering, etc. A few example are Babette's Feast, Eat Drink Man Woman, Home for the Holidays, and What's Cooking?. What are your favorites? Cheers, Matt __ Matt Ball Media Services Librarian University of Virginia https://mail.eservices.virginia.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=f9bb9e66e0cb45eb9c98da 126198ad7eURL=mailto%3amattball%40virginia.edu mattb...@virginia.edu 434-924-3812 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.
[Videolib] you know things are messed up when librarians start marching
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150411506339257 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150411506339257set=a.10150411505 749257.410638.774904256type=1theater set=a.10150411505749257.410638.774904256type=1theater Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films, Inc. 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] you know things are messed up when librarians start marching
She doesn't look like a pathetic schmeep to me. JM -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 12:04 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] you know things are messed up when librarians start marching Ummm...this would sort of imply that librarians are generally pathetic schmeeps who require the sky to fall in order to take action. gary https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150411506339257 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150411506339257set=a.10150 411505 749257.410638.774904256type=1theater set=a.10150411505749257.410638.774904256type=1theater Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films, Inc. 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.IcarusFilms.com Tel 1.718.488.8900 Fax 1.718.488.8642 jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] Groupon suggestion..
Dear Scott Gary Sure! If you can organize 100 libraries to order our (new! Great!) BEES film next week, we will gladly meet your price. Best Jonathan -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 2:22 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Groupon suggestion.. I'd like to hear from John and Winnie from Bullfrog, Jon Miller from Icarus, Larry Daressa from California Newsreel, Debbie Zimmerman from WMM, and whoever is in charge of Filmakers...and other indie distributors Gary I think I was 15 minutes ahead of you, but then I just read a Vanity Fair profile on Groupon. I think we could try to set something up, however the issue with current older titles might be libraries who bought them at full price getting upset, but i guess you can't do much about that. I do think trying this with new releases would be a way to start. On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 2:03 PM, scott spicer spic0...@umn.edu wrote: Apologies for the spamming, but this got buried in the thread on post. I am interested to hear folks take on this, and it appears Jessica reached a similar conclusion at the same time: Just a thought experiment here... I understand that smaller distributors do not want to devalue their collections by cherry picking individual titles for substantially lowered costs and am sensitive to Jessica's claim that lowering prices would not necessarily make up for lost sales in terms of volume. You gotta give us video librarians a fighting chance. Challenging times call for creative solutions. So I propose we crowd source this thing...in the spirit of Elizabeth Stanley, we need a Groupon/Social Living service for Indies/educational media. Picture it: for one day (or week) only, The Strange Disappearance of Bees is $200 or The Big Sellout is $100 (PPR negotiated separately if needed). Let's say price predicated on collective volume sales of at least 50 units, offer ends at 500 takers. Only 5 titles can go up at any given point, and only once a year. Open to all filmmakers/distributors targeting the academic market (with a small percentage of sales recouped for promotion and maintenance). Thoughts? -Scott -- Scott Spicer Media Outreach and Learning Spaces Librarian University of Minnesota Libraries - Twin Cities 341 Walter Library spic0...@umn.edu612.626.0629 Media Services: lib.umn.edu/media SMART Learning Commons: smart.umn.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. -- Jessica Rosner Media Consultant 224-545-3897 (cell) 212-627-1785 (land line) jessicapros...@gmail.com 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] Groupon suggestion..
Ok, so tell me - when? JM -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 2:45 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Groupon suggestion.. Jon You can't organize 100 to do ANYTHING, let alone do it next week. gary Dear Scott Gary Sure! If you can organize 100 libraries to order our (new! Great!) BEES film next week, we will gladly meet your price. Best Jonathan -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 2:22 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Groupon suggestion.. I'd like to hear from John and Winnie from Bullfrog, Jon Miller from Icarus, Larry Daressa from California Newsreel, Debbie Zimmerman from WMM, and whoever is in charge of Filmakers...and other indie distributors Gary I think I was 15 minutes ahead of you, but then I just read a Vanity Fair profile on Groupon. I think we could try to set something up, however the issue with current older titles might be libraries who bought them at full price getting upset, but i guess you can't do much about that. I do think trying this with new releases would be a way to start. On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 2:03 PM, scott spicer spic0...@umn.edu wrote: Apologies for the spamming, but this got buried in the thread on post. I am interested to hear folks take on this, and it appears Jessica reached a similar conclusion at the same time: Just a thought experiment here... I understand that smaller distributors do not want to devalue their collections by cherry picking individual titles for substantially lowered costs and am sensitive to Jessica's claim that lowering prices would not necessarily make up for lost sales in terms of volume. You gotta give us video librarians a fighting chance. Challenging times call for creative solutions. So I propose we crowd source this thing...in the spirit of Elizabeth Stanley, we need a Groupon/Social Living service for Indies/educational media. Picture it: for one day (or week) only, The Strange Disappearance of Bees is $200 or The Big Sellout is $100 (PPR negotiated separately if needed). Let's say price predicated on collective volume sales of at least 50 units, offer ends at 500 takers. Only 5 titles can go up at any given point, and only once a year. Open to all filmmakers/distributors targeting the academic market (with a small percentage of sales recouped for promotion and maintenance). Thoughts? -Scott -- Scott Spicer Media Outreach and Learning Spaces Librarian University of Minnesota Libraries - Twin Cities 341 Walter Library spic0...@umn.edu612.626.0629 Media Services: lib.umn.edu/media SMART Learning Commons: smart.umn.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. -- Jessica Rosner Media Consultant 224-545-3897 (cell) 212-627-1785 (land line) jessicapros...@gmail.com 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
[Videolib] Web site Question # 1
Dear Videolib experts: In planning for the next iteration of our web site, I would like to ask for your help in answering for us one (1) question: QUESTION: If we were to add one (1) new Function (or type of Content, perhaps) to our web site this fall, what should it be? In other words, I am not asking about design, how it looks, layout, quality of writing, or even simple navigation issues (all of which no doubt can be improved). Rather - is there something missing that you would find useful and helpful? Examples (for illustration purposes only) might be: Take American Express cards for payment, Have complete credits on every film, use cookies or a registration process so the site remembers you and when you go to check out you don't have to enter your customer info (credit card info?) each time, have information on all the fimlmaker, have a subject index by country, have an subject index tree - Anthropology Cultural Anthropology Belief Systems for example, more social networking integration, places to leave comments about the film, tagging, etc We don't pretend to know what the site needs - this is why we are asking YOU! Any input, much appreciated. Thank you Sincerely, Jonathan Miller Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] streaming justification
Dear Gary I have a side question about what you wrote - does your Anthro Librarian buy DVDs? Ie, did the Antho librarian purchasing the ASP Ethno (DER) collection (outright? Or subscription?) represent new AV purchasing (money) and a new customer/buyer - or is this instead of either the Anthro librarian's acquisition of DVD or your acquisition of DVD? Thanks! Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 7:34 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] streaming justification Hi Rhonda Berkeley currently has access to ASP's Theater on Video, which was licensed via the California Digital Library as a consortial buy...I was not a strong supporter, but I was out-voted. We also have ASP's Ethnographic Video collection, purchased by our Anthro librarian with $ from a major grant...I was not a strong supporter, but I was out-voted. I have gone on record on videolib and elsewhere regarding my serious qualms about buying into curated or pre-assembled collections. These may be useful in some institutions, but at a place like Berkeley, even with rigorous publicity, only a tiny fraction of the collection will ever be used in any respect. That's just the way it goes here... I floated the ASP Dance collection past dance faculty awhile back, and they pretty much sniffed it away: the stuff they wanted simply wasn't represented and they weren't about to shuffle the syllabus to fit the collection. In hard financial times particularly, seems to me that focused selection that pays careful attention to short and long term need (rather than a grab-bag strategy)is the only responsible way to go. Gary Handman By the way, I really respect and like ASP, I just wish they allowed pick-and-choose options regarding their collections. Hi everyone, So, when you are looking at whether to purchase one of the streaming packages, Alexander St., Films Media group, or whatever, what are your justifications ? Do you look at all the usage stats of each title included in the package, and if so, how many uses and of how many of the titles is considered high enough to justify purchasing? What criteria are you using to persuade powers that be that they are worthwhile? Just curious, rhonda Rhonda Rosen| Head, Media Access Services William H. Hannon Library | Loyola Marymount University One LMU Drive, MS 8200 | Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659 rhonda.ro...@lmu.edu| 310/338-4584| http://library.lmu.eduhttp://library.lmu.edu/ You see, I don't believe that libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing wild animals as librarians. --Monty Python 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] streaming justification
Thanks, no I was more interested in what trend it may or may not represent re what is happening to AV purchasing - ie are new people buying/licensing material w/ the new media options, and/or are they buying w/ new money Ie is ASP additive to our business (potentially), or frightful competition? JM Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 11:14 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] streaming justification Hi The Anthro librarian came into a huge chunk of unrestricted donation money and is looking for ways to spend it intelligently. I've bought stuff selectively for that department for years (they tend to be very focused in what they use, even more so since the demise of the visual anthropology specialization in the department). So: Anthro decided to buy the ASP ethnography collection as part of this (despite my dissuasion), and yes, they have been underwriting the acquisition of selected DVDs as well. And no, she hasn't opted for scoring all or part of the DER collection (yet). It's her money...what can I tell you? Oh, wait...I get it, Jon. You want to pitch her as a new (fatted) customer. Well, have at it. Gary Dear Gary I have a side question about what you wrote - does your Anthro Librarian buy DVDs? Ie, did the Antho librarian purchasing the ASP Ethno (DER) collection (outright? Or subscription?) represent new AV purchasing (money) and a new customer/buyer - or is this instead of either the Anthro librarian's acquisition of DVD or your acquisition of DVD? Thanks! Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com -Original Message- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 7:34 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] streaming justification Hi Rhonda Berkeley currently has access to ASP's Theater on Video, which was licensed via the California Digital Library as a consortial buy...I was not a strong supporter, but I was out-voted. We also have ASP's Ethnographic Video collection, purchased by our Anthro librarian with $ from a major grant...I was not a strong supporter, but I was out-voted. I have gone on record on videolib and elsewhere regarding my serious qualms about buying into curated or pre-assembled collections. These may be useful in some institutions, but at a place like Berkeley, even with rigorous publicity, only a tiny fraction of the collection will ever be used in any respect. That's just the way it goes here... I floated the ASP Dance collection past dance faculty awhile back, and they pretty much sniffed it away: the stuff they wanted simply wasn't represented and they weren't about to shuffle the syllabus to fit the collection. In hard financial times particularly, seems to me that focused selection that pays careful attention to short and long term need (rather than a grab-bag strategy)is the only responsible way to go. Gary Handman By the way, I really respect and like ASP, I just wish they allowed pick-and-choose options regarding their collections. Hi everyone, So, when you are looking at whether to purchase one of the streaming packages, Alexander St., Films Media group, or whatever, what are your justifications ? Do you look at all the usage stats of each title included in the package, and if so, how many uses and of how many of the titles is considered high enough to justify purchasing? What criteria are you using to persuade powers that be that they are worthwhile? Just curious, rhonda Rhonda Rosen| Head, Media Access Services William H. Hannon Library | Loyola Marymount University One LMU Drive, MS 8200 | Los Angeles, | CA 90045-2659 rhonda.ro...@lmu.edu| 310/338-4584| http://library.lmu.eduhttp://library.lmu.edu/ You see, I don't believe that libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing wild animals as librarians. --Monty Python 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
[Videolib] Some survey results
Dear videlib universe As some of you noticed we recently did a survey asking some questions of our customers (hopefully you all ARE customers!) and some of the answers might be interesting. So far we received 76 responses. Of these: 1) 60% of you do NOT license streaming or download rights (40% do) 2) of those 82% license rights for more than one semester (one year term or longer) 3) so that is .82 x .40 = just 33% of you (?) license rights (for a year or more) 4) additionally, when you do license rights, 59% is from the distributor's web site, and 41% from your own or a local server. 5) broken down further: Of the 59% who do license rights from the distributor's web site, 12% do so as needed for a semester or one class, and 88% do so for a year or more Which, if my math and logic is correct(dicey) - that means that Only 59% of 82% of 40% of you a) license rights for a year or more AND b) access the digital files from the distributor's web site. Which is (Drum roll): only 19% of you actually need us to make available this sort of service? Interesting (?) results # 2: We asked what percentage of your media usage and expenditure is for online/streaming, vs. DVD purchases. Re usage: 85% of you said 20% or LESS 74% said 90% or MORE (44% said 100%!) Re expenditures: 81% said 20% or Less 78% said 90% or More I know it is a small and non-scientific sample. Maybe we should pretend it never happened. But - any thoughts on this? Thanks! Best, Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] FW: Some survey results
Sorry, this part was not clear perhaps: Interesting (?) results # 2: We asked what percentage of your media usage and expenditure is for online/streaming, vs. DVD purchases. Re usage: 85% of you said streaming/online is 20% or LESS of your media usage 74% said DVDs represent 90% or MORE (44% said 100%!) of your media usage Re expenditures: 81% said 20% or Less of your budget was spent on streaming/online content 78% said 90% or More of your budget was spent on DVD purchasing. Thanks! JM -Original Message- From: Jonathan Miller [mailto:jmil...@icarusfilms.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 5:31 PM To: 'videolib@lists.berkeley.edu' Subject: Some survey results Dear videlib universe As some of you noticed we recently did a survey asking some questions of our customers (hopefully you all ARE customers!) and some of the answers might be interesting. So far we received 76 responses. Of these: 1) 60% of you do NOT license streaming or download rights (40% do) 2) of those 82% license rights for more than one semester (one year term or longer) 3) so that is .82 x .40 = just 33% of you (?) license rights (for a year or more) 4) additionally, when you do license rights, 59% is from the distributor's web site, and 41% from your own or a local server. 5) broken down further: Of the 59% who do license rights from the distributor's web site, 12% do so as needed for a semester or one class, and 88% do so for a year or more Which, if my math and logic is correct(dicey) - that means that Only 59% of 82% of 40% of you a) license rights for a year or more AND b) access the digital files from the distributor's web site. Which is (Drum roll): only 19% of you actually need us to make available this sort of service? Interesting (?) results # 2: We asked what percentage of your media usage and expenditure is for online/streaming, vs. DVD purchases. Re usage: 85% of you said 20% or LESS 74% said 90% or MORE (44% said 100%!) Re expenditures: 81% said 20% or Less 78% said 90% or More I know it is a small and non-scientific sample. Maybe we should pretend it never happened. But - any thoughts on this? Thanks! Best, Jonathan Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] FW: Tweet from @JSTOR
I thought this article in INSIDE HIGHER ED had a few interesting tidbits in it. -Original Message- From: Jonathan Miller Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:05 AM To: Jonathan Miller Subject: Tweet from @JSTOR A good conversation starter for higher education.The Future of the Academic Library from @insidehighered. http://bit.ly/9JldHQ Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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] Apple's Tablet - next thing for higher ed media/video use?
all of it. Many music executives complain that it has become a powerful gatekeeper between the labels and customers. What's more, the iTunes Store's music downloads haven't grown fast enough to offset the decline in CD sales for music companies. On Monday, Apple sent out an invitation to a media event on Jan. 27 to see our latest creation. The tablet, which Apple currently plans to ship in March, will have about a 10- to 11-inch touch screen, people familiar with the situation say. [jobs] Getty Images Apple CEO Steve Jobs spoke during an event in September 2009. Apple's tablet foray faces several obstacles. Analysts say demand will depend on its price, which some believe will be about $1,000. Apple must also convince consumers the product is worth buying in addition to an iPhone and a laptop computer. And Apple faces competition from cheaper netbooks and other devices such as Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle e-book reader. The tablet's success will depend on how this product can fit into the user's daily life... and whether you have enough content to make it important enough to use it, said Henry Lu, senior vice president of Taiwanese computer company Micro-Star International Co., which failed at selling a tablet computer a few years ago. In the academic arena, Apple could face hurdles wooing universities if the tablet doesn't meet their needs or isn't compatible with other computing devices that students are using. Amazon had been hoping to target the market with its 9.7-inch screen Kindle DX e-book reader, for example, but schools said the device wasn't sufficiently interactive and lacked basics such as page numbers and color graphics. One person familiar with the matter said Apple has put significant resources into designing and programming the device so that it is intuitive to share. This person said Apple has experimented with the ability to leave virtual sticky notes on the device and for the gadget to automatically recognize individuals via a built-in camera. It's unclear whether these features will be included at launch. Apple's content-related efforts heated up in the fall. In October, Apple sent representatives to the Frankfurt Book Fair, the industry's largest trade fair, according to one person familiar with the matter. At the same time, Apple pitched media companies on a best of TV subscription service to television networks under which customers would pay a monthly fee for on-demand access to programs from a bundle of participating TV networks, giving consumers another way to readily access TV content. At a meeting in New York with one network in October, an Apple executive said the company was specifically looking to access four to six shows per channel, said one person familiar with the meeting. Apple has also been planning a revamp of its iTunes music service by creating a Web-based version of it that could launch as soon as June, say people familiar with the matter. Tentatively called iTunes.com, the service would allow customers to buy music without going through the specialized iTunes program on computers and iPhones. People familiar with Apple's plans say a central part of the new strategy is to populate as many Web sites as possible with 'buy' buttons, integrating iTunes transactions into activities like listening to Internet radio and surfing review Web sites. In November, Apple hired Tracy Augustine, a former executive at textbook publishers Cengage Learning Inc. and Pearson Education Inc., as the director of worldwide education. Ms. Augustine is responsible for driving global strategy and revenue for the education online store for students, according to her LinkedIn description. Ms. Augustine didn't respond to a request for comment. Geoffrey A. Fowler and Russell Adams contributed to this article. Jonathan Miller President Icarus Films 32 Court Street, 21st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA tel 1.718.488.8900 fax 1.718.488.8642 www.IcarusFilms.com jmil...@icarusfilms.com 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.
