Hi Jonathan, The very issue of DVDs versus streamed video titles is an upcoming topic for a meeting here at Bobst Library, NYU, specifically with regard to the proposal to subscribe to Docuseek2. I am in favor of continuing to purchase DVDs, even if the titles are also provided as streaming files. When a DVD goes out of print, at least you still have the DVD. Can you guarantee that a streamed video provided through Docuseek2 will always be available? If not, then ownership of a DVD is critical if programs or curricula develop around access to certain titles. If a streamed title gets few or no play "hits" over a certain period of time, would that title be dropped in the future? What if you lose the license to stream a certain title? Then that video is not available to someone in the future who may want to view it. A video can sit on a shelf for years waiting for the next researcher to request it. It can never happen with a withdrawn streaming file, for it will cease to exist. To me, that is the key difference between electronic and "hard" video sources for an academic research library. Streaming is a very powerful tool for ready and widespread access to video titles. But the desire for convenience seems to be driving the conversation more than concerns for the durability of the resources. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water, just yet. Give it some more time.
Regards, Michael Gaffney Video Collections Assoc. Avery Fisher Center / Bobst Library New York University [email protected] / 212-998-2579 On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 10:19 AM, Jonathan Miller <[email protected]> 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 > > [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.
