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Michigan State University

Streaming Video for Campus: Streaming Video Guide

Consider Streaming Models

1) Consider streaming video models and choose those that work best for you

There are several streaming options available to instructors. What you choose will largely depend on how much and what kinds of streaming video you would like to use.

  • ​Link to streamed videos and other media from the MSU Libraries. MSULibraries has invested considerable resources into a growing collection of streaming video titles. For information on how to find these resources, see the box to the right, "Find Streaming Titles Licensed by MSUL." You can also contact your subject librarian or Reference staff for assistance. 
  • Pay-on-demand and freely-available streaming resources. If you intend to use feature films in your syllabus, you might consider asking your students to pay for content from a streaming service such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, among others, so that students can watch on their own time (Netflix, Amazon, and others prohibit classroom use). There is also a free streaming video service available from public libraries called Hoopla. Many distributors and filmmakers also make their titles freely-available on Vimeo, YouTube, and other sites. The shortcoming of any of these services and sites is that no single one will likely have all the titles you need, and content is not stable. If you need help locating streaming video titles you can ask for assistance from a subject librarian.
  • Host streaming video content yourself. 
    • ​Kaltura Media Space allows you to host media files up to a certain size for your class. The Kaltura help pages show you how to upload clips.
    • If you have questions about copyright, consult the Libraries' Copyright page (where you can fill out a form for help or contact someone directly.).

Find Streaming Titles Licensed by MSUL

There are two primary ways to find streaming videos that MSU Libraries has licensed:

  • Go to the Media page (also linked under Electronic Resources). It lists major collections of streaming video that MSU Libraries has licensed for educational use. If you are new to streaming video, a good place to start is Academic Video Online, Kanopy, Film Platform, and Films on Demand. MSU also now has access to the "top 1000" titles from Swank Motion Pictures, as well.
  • Check the MSU Library catalog. Much streaming videos purchased for the MSUL are cataloged, though you will find an overabundance of DVDs because of the Rovi collection. You can identify an online/streaming video because it will in the catalog record two things: "MSU Online Resource" and under Description "Streaming Video File."
  • If you do not find the streaming content you are looking for it may be possible to obtain a that film otherwise. Please talk to the subject librarian who is the liaison to your department, or contact someone about course reserves in the DMC.

Request a Title for Classroom Use

Many streaming videos are not available for educational licensing and purchase. When such options do exist, licensing costs can be high (e.g,. $550 per title) and staff time involved with licensing and making titles available can be considerable. We therefore carefully consider all new streaming purchase requests. Depending on a title's availability for institutional licensing, a distributor's terms of use, and licensing/hosting costs, we may not purchase the videos you request.

Public Performance Rights for Streaming

It is often asked which major vendors can be streamed for a "public" performance (where non-MSU entities are invited, while hosting an on-campus event). The following vendor's films come with public performance rights: Films on Demand, Alexander Street Press, and *some* of Kanopy (someone from the Library would have to check on a case by case basis). The following vendor's film *do not* come with public performance rights (and therefore must be sought and payed for per individual screening): Kanopy (some), Swank Motion Pictures, and Film Platform. All major streaming distributors for which MSU Libraries supplies access are on the Library's Media page: http://libguides.lib.msu.edu/eresources/media