"What I think decisions like Warner Brothers imply is that they don't want the library of the future (or perhaps even a current library) to loan feature film content. What is going to happen when we really cannot count on copyright anymore, when all of our media is licensed, when all of films are streamed? I am really afraid that libraries are become second class citizens of content delivery: we won't choose the content, the content/the distributor, will choose to choose us."
This is correct and truly something to be concerned about. Licensing product for continuous circulation in my opinion is not a good thing for libraries (unless it is in perpetuity-even then it is still a hurdle). It seriously hamstrings what a library can do and the way the copyright laws are currently written there is little recourse for a library. I'm not going to get into a long discussion about UCLA except to say perhaps that while they may have "won" on a legal technicality what they are doing is ethically wrong (my opinion here). There is so much to think about when it comes to delivery of media like this it can be quite confusing. I know many of my academic colleagues are actively streaming media, however in the public library world it can be a logistical (and expensive) mess (see Overdrive)--and the rights holders to the product (speaking mostly about feature films here) frankly hold all of the cards and can "shut us out" if they see fit. And Mary is also correct that many libraries have a difficult time buying from vendors and are encouraged to rely on as few vendors as possible. It is an unfortunate fact when purchasing for a library there can be many hurdles to jump, to just buy a single copy of a DVD. Myles -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mary Hanlin Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 1:10 PM To: '[email protected]' Subject: Re: [Videolib] Warner policy change Policies like this really bother me. First, it is easier for many libraries to purchase a feature film from Midwest than something like Amazon. In Virginia, for example, we have a very restricted state procurement system which very much expects us to buy from contract vendors (Midwest being one). In my individual situation, if the content is not "sole source," it really is much harder for me to buy content from other sources than Midwest. Second, perhaps more importantly, I resent a reasonably large company essentially trying to license material that should fall under the rights and responsibilities of copyrighted content. Warner Brothers is not the ordinary academic distributor: they are not going to "make or break" on the first sale privileges that libraries exist upon and holding a film for 28 days is not going to make the person who depends upon the library go to Blockbuster or Redbox. What I think decisions like Warner Brothers imply is that they don't want the library of the future (or perhaps even a current library) to loan feature film content. What is going to happen when we really cannot count on copyright anymore, when all of our media is licensed, when all of films are streamed? I am really afraid that libraries are become second class citizens of content delivery: we won't choose the content, the content/the distributor, will choose to choose us. Anyway... I'm writing Warner Brothers a letter, regardless of whether it makes a difference or not. Mary. PS: I'm really not this brooding in real life. Mary Hanlin Media Collection Development Librarian Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth 120 Campus Drive, Portsmouth, Virginia 23701 P: 757-822-2133 F: 757-822-2149 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ledbetter, Terri Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 1:32 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Videolib] Warner policy change I truly do hope they will reconsider this. As a public library, our customers count on us to have the newest releases on time. Sometimes they even ask for them when they're still in theaters... Terri Beth Ledbetter Hartford Public Library 500 Main Street Hartford, CT 06103 860-695-6370 860-722-6870 (fax) CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information or otherwise be protected by law. Any access, use, disclosure or distribution of this email message by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is unauthorized and prohibited. If you are not an intended recipient (or an agent acting on an intended recipient's behalf), please contact the sender by reply email and immediately destroy all copies of the original message. Virus scanning is recommended on all email 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. 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.
