I am probably a little prejudice since I am working on a group of documentaries in the $350-$400 range. I think it pretty much depends on the value of the film to your school. If it is a film that will be needed and used for more than one class or more than one semester you , it probably is worth a high fee. Let's assume for the sake of argument you can reasonably show that it will be used in classes covering at least 300 students, then you are talking about $1.50 per student which is a lot less than a book they might buy. I am assuming it is fairly specialized title that is not going to be available in the retail market. I don't think there is a set answer for this. I would make the professor(s) asking for the purchase to show that it will get enough use to justify the purchase.
Jessica On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 10:21 AM, Sarah E. McCleskey <[email protected]> wrote: > Do you think $500 for a documentary is kind of out of line? That is for > direct from producer. Producer says they are in process of partnering with > an educational distributor and that the price may go up. > > > > Sarah E. McCleskey > > Head of Access Services > > Acting Director, FIlm and Media Library > > 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University > > Hempstead, NY 11549-1230 > > 516-463-5076 > > [email protected] > > > > 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.
