Beginning immediately, ZSR Library will again be able to fulfill faculty requests for streaming videos, regardless of whether those videos are available for commercial rental by students. Over the past year, due to budget constraints, we have had to ask instructors to assign students to view films independently via Netflix subscription, rental from Amazon Prime, etc. Starting now, ZSR can again lease these films from sources like Kanopy and Swank Digital Campus in support of instruction. We are excited to be able to make this change, which represents a restoration of our previous policy.

Instructors may continue to request films (whether streaming or DVDs) via their ZSR liaisons or directly via ZSR’s Kanopy portal. ZSR is also able to purchase streaming films on a variety of other platforms, including Alexander Street and Docuseek2, depending on cost and need. And don’t forget that ZSR already provides access to thousands of streaming media titles! Please consider exploring our large Films on Demand streaming video collection for films that might be suitable for classroom use, including a large number of videos from PBS. ZSR’s subscription to Films on Demand gives you full access to all of these films at no additional cost to the library. DVDs will also be available for Course Reserves in the fall, and they remain an appealing option from a cost standpoint. 

We truly appreciate the flexibility and patience that instructors and students have shown since last spring, as we sought to navigate budgetary limitations while providing video content (or at least guidance) wherever we could. We are pleased to now be able to resume our previous level of assistance!