Here at USC we purchase between 100 and 150 documentary films a year,
and it is
very much our firm policy that such films *always *be purchased at the
full institutional
price. A few years back one particular documentary film was
inadvertently purchased
through Amazon and we ended up receiving am email from the distributor,
very much
similar to the message that Mary received in regards to*My Perestroika.*
As soon as
I read the email, I immediately got in touch with the distributor and
apologized for
the error. We sent back the "offending" DVD to Amazon and ordered the
"bonafide"
DVD from the company handing the academic distribution of the film. Were
this to happen
again, I would do exactly the same. It is not for me to say that other
academic institutions
should do likewise, but personally I believe you have the ethical
responsibility to so
do so.
Also, too: understand that USC owing to its size and its close proximity
to the entertainment
industry,is subject to a lot more scrutiny than a lot more other
academic institutions. Thus,
we have to be relentlessly squeaky clean in everything we do when it
comes to media.
Cheers!
Anthony
*******************************
Anthony E. Anderson
Assistant Director, Doheny Memorial Library
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182
(213) 740-1190antho...@usc.edu
"Wind, regen, zon, of kou,
Albert Cuyp ik hou van jou."
********************************
On 2/15/2013 11:03 AM, Mary Hanlin wrote:
Hi All,
I've been schooled, so I understand the fallacy in the emailer's
argument/request. My question, particularly those who don't have ready access
to institutional counsel, is.... how do you handle emails like these? Do you
even respond?
Dear Ms. X,
We recently noticed that you have a copy of My Perestroika in your library's
collection. We are thrilled! This critically acclaimed documentary enables
students to better understand Soviet and Post-Soviet life by following the
lives of 5 Russians who were part of the last generation to live under the Iron
Curtain. My Perestroika, which recently received a 2012 Peabody Award, is
useful in a wide-variety of disciplines, including History, Anthropology,
Political Science, and Sociology. At the bottom of this email, I have included
just a few examples of what professors have said about the film (for more
examples, please visit our website).
According to our records, it seems that your library may have inadvertently
purchased the copy of My Perestroika distributed by New Video/Docurama.
Unfortunately, this version is for home use only. The only version of My
Perestroika that is legally licensed for educational use is distributed by New
Day Films. In order, for independent films such as My Perestroika to exist for
use in teaching, and so they can continue to be made in the future by
non-profit filmmakers such as Ms. Hessman, it is critical that institutions
purchase the appropriate version.
We realize that the cost of the educationally licensed dvd may not fit within your
college's budget. The price was determined by the cost of making the film which,
unfortunately, was very high (over 800k) particularly since Soviet archival and music
rights were very expensive. We have discussed the price issue with our distributor and we
are willing to offer you a one-time discount to purchase the educationally licensed dvd
at the extremely reduced price of $150. You can purchase the film for at this special
price by clicking here (http://www.newday.com/films/myperestroika.html). On the online
ordering form, just select the button for the K-12 schools ($150 option). As you continue
through the purchasing process, there will be a place for Special Instructions/Comments.
In that box, please write "approved purchase at high school rate." We also ask
that you also please remove the Home Video DVD (New Video / Docurama) version from your
library catalogue immediately.
Thank you in advance for your assistance, and please let me know if you have
any questions or concerns.
Mary Hanlin
Media Collection Development Librarian
and Adjunct English Instructor
Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth
120 Campus Drive,
Portsmouth, Virginia 23701
P: 757-822-2133
F: 757-822-2149
mhan...@tcc.edu
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