You Ought to be in Pictures: Bringing Streaming Video to Your Library

Since 2003, James Madison University has been building a streaming video collection. Using vendor licensing and fair use guidelines, the University Libraries’ have added thousands of online videos via either purchased files or in-house digitization. Whether through media collections or title by title, the Libraries strive to provide faculty and students with access to the resources they require at the time and place they need it. The Libraries’ efforts in building and maintaining this collection from selection to licensing and from digitization to access over the last seven-eight years has presented numerous learning opportunities and eye-opening moments. Through their experience, Libraries’ staff have utilized systems and multiple workflow evaluations to streamline processes and procedures. In addition, aspects of the process have evolved with technology and as more vendors enter the world of digital rights. Still, the act of streaming media for use within an academic setting is a complex, multi-step process. However, the Libraries’ have found the pay-off for its efforts to be well worthwhile.