I also think this news is a mixed bag at best. I've never been crazy about the quality of Filmakers Library DVD-Rs, but even so streamed video simply cannot match the technical specifications of DVDs at this point. Alexander Street's streaming video is better quality than some other vendors, but in my view it's still not good enough for instructors to show an hour-long video projected on a large screen in class.
On the positive side, according to the article they *will* be licensing titles on an individual basis as well. --James -- James M. Steffen, PhD Film and Media Studies Librarian Theater and Dance Subject Liaison Marian K. Heilbrun Music and Media Library Emory University 540 Asbury Circle Atlanta, GA 30322-2870 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 11:10:49 -0800 From: ghand...@library.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Filmakers Library acquired by Alexander Street Press To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Message-ID: <e84b68d50edc09a1196dc471a5626e68.squir...@calmail.berkeley.edu> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=utf-8 Wow This is not particularly wonderful news, in my book. I admire ASP, but the business model they've established for video doesn't make my heart sing. There are lots of reasons why streamed-only content doesn't work well in academic library contexts, and the model whereby single titles are not available for purchase and licensing is really a serious problem as well. Also, I'm wondering what the future of Filmakers Library new acquisitions is going to be: Is ASP simply buying the FL backlist, or will they actively be scouting for new titles... Lots of questions. gary handman > I understand that this was announced at ALA MidWinter last week, but > didn't see anything posted about it here. I've been off the list for a > while, so apologies is this has already been posted or discussed here. > > Information Today, Inc. had an article on Thursday about Alexander Street > Press's acquisition of Filmakers Library and new directions the company is > taking the collection. Read it here: > > http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Streaming-Video-and-Music-Developments-at-Alexander-Street-Press-73341.asp > > -- > deg farrelly, Full Librarian > Mail Code 1006 > Arizona State University > P.O. Box 871006 > Tempe, AZ 85287 > Phone: 480.965.1403 > Email: deg.farre...@asu.edu > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve > as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. > Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC "I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself." --Francois Truffaut End of videolib Digest, Vol 38, Issue 69 **************************************** This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments). 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.