I think these are genius ideas from Meghann. I especially like the
idea of a joint letter from VRT and NMM and having an “all set”
statement with many signatures ready to attach to an email we’re sending.
So who’s the drafter? ;)
Susan Albrecht
Graduate Fellowship Advisor
Library Media Acquisitions Manager
Wabash College Lilly Library
765-361-6216 (acquisitions) / 765-361-6297 (fellowships)
765-361-6295 fax
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Twitter: @Wab_Fellowships
www.facebook.com/wabashcollegelibrary.films
<http://www.facebook.com/wabashcollegelibrary.films>
*******************************************************************
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." --Neil Peart
*******************************************************************
*From:*[email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Meghann
Matwichuk
*Sent:* Friday, December 02, 2016 10:59 AM
*To:* [email protected]
*Subject:* Re: [Videolib] 13th and Streaming Distribution w/o
Educational Availability
I like the idea of a petition. Who would we target? Amazon (Prime)
and Netflix seem to be the primary 'offenders' right now. (But there
are individual / self-distributors who are also only selling to
individuals via stream.)
Another possibility -- maybe a joint letter from VRT and NMM?
Meredith and other vendor allies -- what do you think would be a good
way for those of us interested in making a joint statement to get the
attention of the right folks?
Alternately, it might be helpful to attach something like the joint
letter or a statement with a giant gob of signatories when we're all
individually contacting distributors. Like, keep it on your desktop
and just clip it to any of these individual emails we might send when
we advocate for educational distribution. "You might be interested to
know that there are many who are concerned about this issue, and are
interested in purchasing hard copies and educational licenses. Please
see the attached letter."
--
Meghann Matwichuk, M.S.
Associate Librarian
Coordinator, Film & Video Collection
Morris Library, University of Delaware
181 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19717
(302) 831-1475
https://library.udel.edu/filmandvideo
On 12/2/2016 10:29 AM, Laura Jenemann wrote:
Hi all,
I’m happy to add my voice. Is there a group letter writing
option? Change.org post? Blog post option? I may be able to
help with the tech for this.
Once again, Ava DuVernay has gotten the ball rolling on an
important topic. Why not keep it rolling?
Regards,
Laura
Laura Jenemann
Media, Film Studies & Dance Librarian
George Mason University Libraries
Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Phone: 703-993-7593
*From:*[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of
*Wochna, Lorraine
*Sent:* Thursday, December 1, 2016 6:05 PM
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [Videolib] 13th and Streaming Distribution w/o
Educational Availability
Meghann,
Thanks so much for such a thorough response.
Yes, I agree and will challenge these distributors as well!
Best,
lorraine
*From:*[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of
*Meghann Matwichuk
*Sent:* Thursday, December 01, 2016 3:17 PM
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* [Videolib] 13th and Streaming Distribution w/o
Educational Availability
Thanks for passing this along, Lorraine!! This is exciting!
Although, it doesn't quite solve the problem of having a physical
copy in our collection, or a streaming version to which we can
provide access for our patrons who may not have a Netflix
account. I was just having a conversation about this (films
produced by streaming services without any means for libraries to
purchase hard copies or license) with the lovely Meredith Miller
not a few hours ago, and just a week or two ago had an exchange
with the distributors of the Netflix film Audrie and Daisy
<http://www.audrieanddaisy.com/>. It went as follows:
Me: "Greetings, I am a media librarian at the University of
Delaware Library. One of UD's student groups will be hosting a
film screening of Audrie & Daisy soon, and we've already had
requests that we add the film to our Library's collection so that
it can be used in classes and made available for students to watch
for research. Are there any plans to make Audrie & Daisy available
for purchase on DVD soon, or via some other mechanism that allows
institutional access? I've personally watched the film via my own
Netflix account, and I know it would be a great resource for our
faculty and students. Thank you!"
Carla @ Filmsprout: "Thanks so much for your note, and we're
thrilled to hear that the Library is interested in the film. I'm
so sorry, but currently there aren't plans to make the film
available for institutional purchase because the film is already
available for individual and private classroom use via the Netflix
service. However, I'd be glad to let you know if anything changes!"
Me: "Institutions are not able to subscribe to Netflix, so
unfortunately we can't offer private classroom use via the Netflix
service. I hope that this may change in the near future, as we've
been unable to provide equitable access to some excellent
programming due to the models put forth by Amazon Prime, Netflix,
etc. Please do let me know if anything should change with 'Audrie
& Daisy'."
Carla: "Thank you for your note, and I hear you. I've shared your
feedback with my team, and I will absolutely let you know if
anything changes around institutional licensing for the film."
Several of us (myself, Lorraine, and a few others who may or may
not be on VideoLib?) who attended National Media Market in October
discussed this very thing over lunch one afternoon -- the need to
advocate and raise awareness amongst the producers of films that
fit into this growing category. Towards that end, I'd encourage
everyone to take the extra time to contact producers of films like
13th, Audrie & Daisy, Transparent, etc. when your students /
instructors request them to help the producers understand the need
for an educational distribution model that would allow us to
provide access to these important films. Clearly, Ms. DuVernay and
the Filmsprout folks intend for these documentaries to be widely
seen and utilized in educational settings -- they need to hear
from us that we share that mission and need options to pay them
for / license their content.
Best,
--
Meghann Matwichuk, M.S.
Associate Librarian
Coordinator, Film & Video Collection
Morris Library, University of Delaware
181 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19717
(302) 831-1475
https://library.udel.edu/filmandvideo
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.
