Streaming video encompasses all subjects that MSU Libraries collects otherwise. The format is completely interdisciplinary, and even covers veterinary medicine and nursing.
There are a variety of ways streaming video is collected and made available to MSUL patrons:
Through subject librarian firm orders. Librarians may purchase access through digital downloads from distributors, filmmakers, or other content providers, either "a la carte" or in packages from companies like Alexander Street Press.
Through "patron driven acquisition" packages curated by the person who manages the AVM fund. As of 2025 Kanopy is the only content provider through which a PDA is maintained. The manager of the AVM fund in the past has worked with Kanopy to get "premium" titles available through the MSU Library's catalog. When those titles are "triggered" by a certain amount of use an automatic one year license is generated (and the Library gets an invoice every month with all of these triggered PDA titles.
Through requests from the Kanopy site. Patrons searching the Kanopy site can make direct requests to the MSU Library for access to films. Requests come directly to the manager of the AVM fund, who then searches the MSUL catalog to make sure the film is not already available from a different content provider. These requests are considered "course reserves" in order to keep down costs. When faculty make requests it is also considered whether Kanopy is offering a "perpetual access license" (PAL), and whether to purchase that license. Subject librarians are sometimes consulted in these decisions.
Through subscriptions to various content providers. MSUL has subscriptions to several vendor packages, such as the Swank "Top 1000," the Alexander Street Press Academic Video Online, the Infobase (Films on Demand) Master Academic Package, and others. With Swank requests can be made by faculty for a la carte titles that are not in their "top 1000."
Through "packaged" purchasing. Companies like Alexander Street Press (and others) offer packages of themed or collected content, like the PBS Collection, or Theatre in Video, that can be purchased (and therefore owned by MSUL). The cost for these packages is high, but there is usually cost saving because of purchasing in bulk.
