Using Video in Your Course

Finding Streaming Content: Western Libraries provides access to a large number of licensed streaming videos.

1. Check OneSearch and Academic Video Online 
2. Or contact the Media Librarian to see if there are films already available

Course Reserves: Instructors may include streaming media in course reserves by using the Course Reserves Request Form. More information at the Course Reserves page.

Request Digital Streaming Media Form

Video tutorial for completing form

Time Constraints: Apart from a few streaming providers, such as Kanopy, setting up streaming agreements with vendors can be time-consuming. Requesters should plan ahead, since it can take several weeks to license these materials. Prior to the quarter, instructors should check the expiration dates, listed in OneSearch, for all the films they hope to screen during the quarter.

Criteria for Leasing: Western Libraries supports curricular-based streaming video as best we can given the budget constraints, restrictive vendor licensing terms, high costs (typical streaming rights for one year are $150-$600 per film), and the need for equitable distribution of streaming across the university. Because funding is limited, requests will be evaluated based on their relevance to specific coursework. The Libraries will accept requests from faculty, staff, and students until the streaming media budget for each quarter has been expended.

Duplication: At the Libraries’ discretion, streaming titles already owned on DVD may be leased, if needed, for an online course.

Commercially Available Film: The Libraries does not typically lease streaming rights for films which are readily available at a reasonable cost through commercial services such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon. However, given the financial strain facing many of our students, the Libraries may acquire streaming rights for these types of films on a case-by-case basis. Consult an online video aggregator such as JustWatch.com to see which titles are available on major commercial streaming providers. Additionally, you may contact the Media Librarian for guidance.

Renewals: Upon expiration of a license--usually after one year--the Libraries will not proactively initiate a renewal. If a streaming title continues to be needed for a course beyond one year, the instructor should submit a new request for leased access, to be evaluated based on the leasing criteria outlined above.

Western Libraries strives to provide access to streaming video for curricular use whenever possible, however there may be situations in which the best option is to ask students to arrange for their own access. In these instances, the Libraries recommends providing students as much advance notice as possible.

Rentals: Rental fees can be quite modest ($3 - $4) and can be considered analogous to purchasing a book for classroom use.

Student Subscriptions: Consider asking your students to pay for content from a streaming provider such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, The Criterion Channel, etc. Some films may be available at your public library as DVDs or streaming. Whatcom residents are eligible for Whatcom County Public Library, or Bellingham Public Library cards that provide free access to these resources.

Help: Consult an online video aggregator such as JustWatch.com to see which titles are available on major commercial streaming providers.

Hosting Video in Canvas: Canvas allows instructors to host media files up to a certain size for their courses. The default size is 2 GB. You can contact CanvasHelp@wwu.edu to ask for more space in your course.

Worried about copyright? Consider doing a Fair Use evaluation to determine whether you can host the media yourself. See the Western Libraries copyright FAQ for more information about this process and the criteria involved.

Converting Media: The Libraries does not currently have the infrastructure to convert physical media to digital formats.

Accessibility Accommodations: If you need a media item to be converted for accessibility reasons, please notify the Libraries and/or contact the Disability Access Center (DAC). The Libraries will work with DAC and Video Services to ensure that physical media collections are accessible to all users.